GM Foxy's Carrion Crown

Game Master Foxy Quickpaw

"Wonderful. You won't regret that." Zokar replies. "Anyone else?" he asks.

As everyone else seems to need more time Zokar asks "So you're friends of the deceased Professor?"

"We all had a connection with him yes, friends and more to him really. Were you a friend of the Professor? We have some questions to ask really nothing major just why he wasn't so liked and if you had any idea what he was looking into at the Harrowstone?"

Herm will eat his bowl of stew.

"I wouldn't say friend. He was a regular customer and I really like talking to him. He had always interesting stories to tell. The vampire steaks here on the menu were inspired by one of his stories."

"I guess his interest in undead and necromancy ruined his reputation. I think the line is a fine one between fighting it and using it and most people don't care to make the distinction. And the thought he did his thing here at the Harrowstone makes me shudder. Look here, goose bumps." he says pointing to his arm.

"But I have no idea what he wanted at the Harrowstone. And I bet he told no one that he wanted to go there. Maybe his daughter."

"But let me fetch your stew before we continue." Zokar rushes into the kitchen and only a moment later he comes back with two bowls of a thick meaty stew and places them on the table for Herm and Amira to enjoy.

"So it really comes down to the villagers not wanting to see the difference between someone studying and fighting the undead to someone summoning them? A very crude and limited point of view but I guess they are entitled to it."

"They are good an honest people here. But they are farmers and craftsmen. They like a joke about undead like my menu. But no one - including me - wants to meet anything like that in person."

"But if you want to deal with such things the people don't want to deal with you. It's really easy. It only gets complicated if you want to be friends with them and deal with such horrors. The easiest thing would be to find different friends. Such friends who have the time and the money to take an hour to discuss these fine differences. Instead of toiling all day until you got enough to feed the kids."

"So basically no one here will help us and if we do look into the Harrowstone we are on our own and shunned by the town? Understood, thank you kind Ser for your words of wisdom."

With that Herm will finish his stew pay and wait for the others to finish up.

What do I owe for the meal?

Tamara is lost in thought and fails to order before the innkeeper disappears. When she comes back and she smells the food from the others she realizes that she is hungry. "Oh, sorry that I didn't say so right away. I would also like some of the stew please."

"I guess we know about as much of the professor as you do, not that that is saying much, so not much to gain on that front. However owning a place like this you are bound to talk to a lot people, hear a lot of stories. Perhaps you could retell some of the more interesting ones while we eat? I always love to learn hear new tales. That's one of the wonderful things about traveling, Desna guide me, to talk to new people and hear fascinating things." guidance

She fishes out a gold coin and slides it over. "We'll make it worth your time of course, we understand you are busy. Though thinking about it, old stories might be as interesting as new ones. You wouldn't happen to have any about the inmates of Harrowstone?"

diplomacy with guidance: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

@Herm: Why not roll diplomacy? You are talking enough to the guy to potentially affect his attitude towards us for the better :)

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16 To affect how he feels, I was thinking that but I am at work and got distracted.

"I'm getting you your stew first." Zokar replies and fetches another bowl from the kitchen.

He puts it in front of Tamara and starts telling stories. "There are a lot of stories going around here. But I wouldn't give too much on most of them. For instance people tell travelling merchants who try to cheat the locals here end up in my corpse chowder."

"About the Harrowstone prisoners I know nothing. I'm not that old." he tells im mock offense. [b]"But now and then, if you visit Harrowstone near sundown, you can hear the ghost of the warden’s wife wailing and sobbing from somewhere within the ruins. She haunts the prison now, forever mourning her husband and attempting to frighten anyone who intrudes on the prison. Or so I'm told. I've never been there myself."

Stew and ale 2sp

Amira is busy stuffing her face quickly only briefly looking up form her food nodding.

"So there is some truth to all the rumors then? There is a ghost haunting the ruins?"

Herm almost leaps from the table at the thought of undead that need to be freed from the servitude.

"I for sure didn't check that. Might be a ghost or some cat in season. But if you find out please tell me. I love such stories." Zokar replies.

He takes a swig from his mug of ale. "But tell me, why are you so interested in all those stories about the Harrowstone?" Zokar inquires.

The doctor's getting a lot of blame for stuff he didn't do. We can't let that sit Amira says through a mouthful of food

Herm nods in agreement with Amira "To clear a good mans name and maybe to put some nasty rumors to rest."

"Why, what do they say about him?" Zokar asks curiously.

"They said he was a necromancer..." Tamara says hesitantly. This is not the line of conversation she would have chosen for herself.

"Anyway, you mentioned the warden's wife. What was her name? Do you know someone who knows more about her, knew her in real life perhaps?" Tamara is interested to find out as much about the prison and the dangers they might face there before they go themselves.

"You're going to have a hard time clearing his name from that. Because you mam" Zolar nods at Amira "are considered a necromancer too after what you said at the funeral."

"As for the warden's wife. I didn't care to remember her name." Thinking about it for a while he adds "Jorfa is old enough and lives long enough in Ravengro. At least there is the possibility she could have known her."

He takes the coin and gets up "If you decide you want to eat something too or want another drink you know where you find me." He walks back behind the bar and continues to wash dishes.

They can say what they want, i don't care...unlike like them i'm willing to give people a chance, who does that make the real bad guy Amira is clearly done explaining herself, the subject seeming sensitive We have work to do is everyone ready

Herm wonders why the man go so upset so fast with Amira

sense motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

Herm nods towards Amira "I am ready to go as well, seems like we have another person to visit." He gets up and leaves with Amira leaving a gold piece on the table for his and the others meals.

Whom are you going to visit?

Jorfa, we need to learn a few more things about the "wardens wife" prior to going in. Names hold power you know, or so tells me Harry Dresen.

Back on the market place Herm notices a polished iron sign with engraved rusty letters. Which reads 'Ravengro Forge' and below that 'Jorfa' in unusual writing.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

"Yeah, let's go see this Jofra." Tamara smiles at having found a potential source of useful information.

Outside she says in barely a whisper to the others. "When we go to Harrowstone and if there is a ghost there, it would be useful to know as much about it as possible."

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

I assume that's enough.

"Ah, Jofra must be the smith. That reminds me, I did see the name inscribed on the doorbell to the councilman's manor. Either way, let's go to see her. May Desna bless us all with luck so she'll see us in a favorable light." Tamara briefly touches the rest as she channels her divine guidance casting guidance

She starts heading towards the smithy.

The group visits Jorfa's smithy. The door is not locked and has an 'open' sign hanging in the window.

Inside is a workshop. A clean and tidy workshop. Everything is properly lined up. The offered products, the tools of the trade. And everything clean. Only besides the anvil where a dwarven woman is working are rust particles that fall off when the glowing iron is forged.

As she sees the group she puts the piece of iron back into the fire and aproaches the strangers. "Greetings strangers." Seizing up the people she asks "Are you in need of a good weapon?"

Tamara greets the woman with her warmest smile. "Greetings master smith! I'm Tamara Hart and I'm new in town. While I would love to use your fine work, I'm afraid I don't have the funds right at this moment. Maybe my companions need something?" She looks to the others to see if they'll take up the offer. If they buy something beforehand the woman might be more friendly disposed towards them.

"I came to town for the funeral of professor Lorrimor. It seems like he met an unfortunate end at Harrowstone and left behind some clues to what could potential be a dangerous situation to the town. We are looking into that to avert any danger if possible. You've probably lived in this town longer than I've been alive. Mayhaps you know a thing or two about Harrowstone? We heard it burnt down in a fire and we visited the memorial, but we don't know much about the stories of the people therein. Would you be so kind as to help out with that? We heard from Zokar about the wife of the warden, but he didn't know much about her, but that you might. Did you know that good woman?"

diplomacy with guidance: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

"I'm selling weapons, armors and unfortunately farm tools. What I don't sell is information. Even if you were friends this talk would only happen over an ale. And not that cheap stuff Zokar serves. But to give you some reason to leave me alone I give you a hint. The wife of Warden Hawkran was named Mrs. Hawkran. And I'm pretty sure they didn't forget her as they made the memorial. More than that I don't know anyway." Jorfa says looking Tamara in the eyes with a stern look.

"Right now Miss I have nothing that I need to purchase but if my needs change I know where I will come to spend my coin. I thank you for the help you will provide, we will take our leave."

Tamara tries to offer the dwarf a smile despite the harsh reply. "Thank you. You've been more friendly to us than some in this town. This morning there were some trying to stop the professor being buried here. Could you give us the directions to the Hawkrans? And I'll see if we can't find some good ale somewhere as to better share stories if we want to talk to you for other things than business, though that's more fitting for later in the day I wager." She looks to her companions. "Let's move along then."

Once they exit the shop she looks to the others. "Should we visit these Hawkrans? I think we should. It seems like everyone we talk to simply points us to someone else who might know something instead of actually telling us anything. I hope this is not just a big dead end."

I don't think any one of them will help, there all either scared or don't know anything. time to stop asking questions

"May be it is best that we just head out and once we know more we can talk with the towns folk again?"

its not going to make a difference, a pharasmin priest refuses to acknowledge the situation. the time for talk is over , its time for action...

"So we will seek out the knowledge from the crypt and head to to the Prison post haste?"

Tamara nods with a sad look. "It's sad that people don't want to help, but it's to be expected. People around here are suspicious of strangers and other things they are unfamiliar with. Let's head to the crypt first yes. Hopefully we'll find something that can help us there." Tamara's sad look dissapears at the last comment. She's glad to have won Herm over to go visit the crypt.

She starts walking with the others towards the Restlands again. Once there she'll once more offer a prayer for guidance. "Desna, please help us find what we are looking for." Touching her companions as well to share it with them.

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

The group walks the now well known path to the Restlands. Casual observation shows that the two acolytes that helped with the burial of the Professor this morning are working in the western part of the restlands. It looks like they are weeding some graves no one else is looking after.

On the way along The Eversleep an elderly woman passes the group on er way back carrying an empty watering can.

As they reach the crossing of The Eversleep with the Black Path it becomes obvious which crypt it has to be for there is only one in this part of the restlands. There is one here and there, but most of them are at the entrance and at the Ancestors Walk. Some more are seen at the end of The Eversleep and The Black Path has a group of crypts too. But this one is the only one that could simply be described by standing at the crossing of the two paths.

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 rustylooking lock sits in the mausoleum’s south facade.

I assume you're standing at the crossing and are now aware of the crypt. The lock can't be examined from that position

Herm will follow Tamara around the graveyard, giving a silent prayer to the Inheritor to help him with this troubling act and to keep them safe while they look.

The Black Path

Herm will look around, not feeling quite right just from a casual look of things, he will scan a bit more intently than normal Detect Undead hoping that it is nothing than a rough day getting the hairs on the back of his neck up.

Herm quietly whispers to the group

"I have a feeling those two acolytes will notice or even hear us entering the tomb, maybe I should go and distract them while you enter and see what is in there?"

If it's a matter of distraction i might be better for that job..oh and that lock over there is broken. parts were melted with acid and put back

percept: 1d20 ⇒ 12

The acolytes work on a grave some 250 ft away.

"If you want to, Tamara and myself will enter the crypt once you have engaged the two acolytes."

"I really don't like that suggestion. What if we run into something dangerous? We'll need all the help we can get. They can't see much from over there anyway. And they are picking weeds anyway. Hard to do that while keeping an eye on what's happening over here. Let's just go in together." She shudders as she remembers the fatal consequences of splitting from her father.

She starts walking towards the door. "Though this broken lock makes me suspicious. If Lorrimor didn't do this, then who came here? I doubt the old Phrasmans destroyed their own lock. Let me examine things more closely. Desna please guide my eyes." She bends to examine it.

Do the acolytes have line of sight to us? Or is something blocking the way, for example the crypt itself?

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

They have line of sight.

i'm not to big a fan of splitting up, we could just ask them what they are doing here. say we have permission to investigate the area, ect. Amira comments, trying to devise a plan

earlier in town
An old grandfatherly man knocks on the door of Kendra's house. Still laden with all the equipment of travel. "Kendra, I am so sorry about your father." He says, head bowed. "I once made your father a promise, and I intend to keep it. I promised him I would look after you. I have two daughters already, and I watched you grow up as well. You might as well as be my third." with a forced chuckle. "Would you tell me where they buried him please? I would like to go pay my respects. And after, may I join you again?" A kind smile on his face

"Hello Harrold. Thank you for your kind offer. Of course you're welcome to visit me anytime. How was your travel?" she asks opening the door wide.

"Or should that wait until later? You asked for my fathers grave. It is along The Eversleep. You'll recognize it. The burial was only this morning. It has no headstone yet but it is the only fresh grave in that area." Kendra replies

"I will tell you all about it as soon as I return. Thank you." He says offering her a hug. He re-balances his pack, turns and makes his way towards the grave. He shuffles along, weighed down by his load, and his emotions, to the grave of his old friend.

He stands overlooking the freshly dug soil, "I am sorry I wasn't here to say a word at your funeral." He goes silent for a while, "You have raised a wonderful daughter, and you don't need to worry about her. She is strong, and she has people who will look after her. I will keep my promise." With that he kneels down and digs his fingers into the turned earth. He doesn't move an inch for a while, eyes closed, remembering his old friend.
"Now let's go see what we can do about you not having a tombstone." He says, standing slowly, and making his way to find the acolytes who he knows works the grounds.

Finding them tending some graves he approaches them "Fellows, why is there no tombstone yet for Professor Lorrimor? in a that typical old people chewing out tone of voice
Looking over their shoulders he sees a group of people huddled at the front of a crypt, looking his way

Turning towards the old men one of the acolytes reply mildly annoyed "Because you don't put a stone there before the earth has settled down. Which takes at least a month. And then someone from the family would have to provide the stone."

not something I knew and very interesting besides.

"He was a brilliant man. I am sure many people will be travelling here to pay their last respects. Can't we do something to mark the grave?" He responds

Herm turns back to his two new friends.

"Ladies it would seem like we now have our distraction and must press forward as quickly as possible."

With that Herm mutters a quick silent forgiveness prayer and undoes the broken lock. "It isn't breaking and entering if the lock has already been broken. Plus my vision could not penetrate the earth and there could be undead down there who need freeing from their torment."