The councilwoman nodded, "I feel the same way, sir. Well, if I could make a request of you, please help to spread the word. Like I said, I will take this to the council, but we want as many people as possible to come out to the meeting tonight. We want no confusion as to who will be allowed to go to Harrowstone, who won't, and what you all will be doing there. Of course, not everything needs to be told, but some sort of explanation needs to be given for the goings on, from Gibs to the undead and anything inbetween. Something to let them know that you have it in hand." She sets down her tea and stands up, giving a slight bow in the direction of the group. "I thank you for your desire to help. I will see you all this evening at the town hall." With that she took her leave.
It was the breakthrough the group had been in need of, but now they had their work cut out for them for today anew. They had the information and they had the forum; now they just needed to get the people to the forum so they could disseminate the information. Tev had his own thoughts on how to best do that, but wanted to hear from the others. He also wanted to give Tuoni a chance to explain his sudden return. As Tev began compiling their research data into something presentable, he asked, "Will we be able to tell them that you're going to Harrowstone with us, Sir Argyris?"
At last Touni was pleased that the council members seemed to finally be making the right decision. Though how it could have taken them this long was incomprehensible. He gives his head shake as the woman leaves. I think I will never understand councils.
To Tev, We will tell them together. I have been reassigned to investigate the Whispering Way's activities here, and pursue any relevant trails that might result.
Attacks on our patrols near Gallowspire have increased, and there have been disturbing reports across Ustalav, particularly along near the border with Lastwall. Since none can be spared to investigate Harrowstone, Sir Marcian, the knight you saw, delivered me new orders. I now serve under the Chief Inquisitor of Ustalav.
Grinning at Alyssa, Beware, I am now an Inquisitor. Continuing on in more serious tone, I Hope that does not stop you from speaking freely. I think still believe your answers might help us better understand the evil we face.
Alyssa looked very displeased when Tuoni announced his newly appointed position, scowling in the face of his happiness. And what's more he hadn't forgotten the question he'd asked before they'd begun speaking with the council woman.
A tense hand on the hilt of her sword, Alyssa thought over what the zombie of professor Lorrimor had said to her. It was obvious the thing had known her personally but she hadn't done anything that she was aware of to draw attention to herself, except to have remained here and working against the Whispering Way. Could her dream have been another attempt from her true sires to subjugate her? Or where they just the tortured visions of someone struggling to live with polluted blood?
"I do not know why the creature controlling the professor would have singled me out, or what kind of creature that would be." she spoke the truth as much as she knew of it, leaving out the dream.
Touni shrugs, Even that tells us much. That it is something capable of gathering secret information, either through magic or more mundane means. We should all be on our guard. I doubt this is the last time it will attack our resolve.
Turning to the excitable halfing, Baris, let us visit Father Grimburrow and secure his help in gathering everyone together for the meeting.
"Yes, yes, that sounds good, then perhaps we can go over to the general store and I can get my climbing kit. I think it would be good to assure them as well." Baris says happily.
Agreed.
Gesturing at his zombie-claw-rent shirt, Tev commented, "I'm going to need some new clothes, so unless there's something here I can borrow, I'll be going to the tailor's. I suppose I could spread the word in the Commons while I'm there."
Alyssa was at a temporary loss of ideas for what she could do to pass the time until the meeting. Her initial reaction was to think of some way that she could learn more about what it was that had possessed the professor's body and what significance her dream may have had if it hadn't just been a dream.
But she had already done so much searching in this town that she felt certain she wouldn't be able to find anything further here in Ravengro, and that the answers she sought were only to be found in Harrowstone.
So that left spreading the word to the townsfolk of the meeting that night. But she wasn't feeling all that social, and she was sure that if she attempted to make nice with the townsfolk they would probably shrink from her because of her appearance.
Perhaps if she was with someone whose presence could put them at ease...
Warily she looked over at Janasen. "Would you be adverse to me accompanying you in letting the town know of tonight's meeting?" the voices snickered in derision to heighten her feeling of embarrassment at just asking, and Alyssa had the sudden urge for a stiff drink even in the middle of the day.
Janasen catching alyssa's embarrassment smiles reassuringly "It would be my pleasure to have you accompany me." after waiting for everyone to finish making plans "shall we be off then?"
Alyssa nodded and stood from her seat, ready to go.
You all go throughout the town, spreading the word about the town hall meeting. The people seem very receptive to the news, ready to hear what the council has to say. It's as if the people of the town are at their last nerve, waiting for some sort of direction.
Tuoni and Baris stop by the general store and let them know what's happening. With the level of trust you've attained in the town the climbing kit only costs you 72gp.
These crampons, pitons, ropes, and other tools give you a +2 circumstance bonus on Climb checks.
The staff at the store, Luthko and his family, felt very comforted by the presence of the two adventurers. After there Baris and Tuoni moved on to the Temple, where Father Grimburrow was waiting having heard the news of the meeting already. He had the tools that you found in the Restlands, allowing you to take whatever you need from the stash. Anything you're not sure that you would need or that you think your comrades might need he'll hold on to and can be picked up from him at any time. You have free run of the temple at this point and free healing any time you need it.
10 +1 Arrows
5 +1 Ghost Arrows
2 +1 undead bane arrows
5 potions cure light wounds
2 potions lesser restoration
1 scroll of detect undead
2 scrolls of hide from undead
2 scroll of protection from evil
spirit planchette
3 Haunt Siphons
5 Potions Cure Light Wounds
2 Potions Lesser Restoration
2 Scrolls of Hide from Undead
1 Scroll of Protection from Evil
As the rest of the group disperses through the town the zombies by the house stay dead under the watchful eye of the combined deputy/acolyte forces.
As nightfall approaches and the sun begins to dip below the horizon the town is alive with people heading towards the town square. It seems like everyone shows up or the event. The entire council is there and the councilwoman Shanda gets your party's attention. "We would like you to come and stand on stage with us. The council is all in agreement to allow you all to go to Harrowstone first thing tomorrow with our full blessing. Councilman Hearthmount will be addressing the crowd tonight and telling them of our decision and fielding any questions, so please don't feel pressured to answer anything." With that she leads you up to the stage, Councilman Hearthmount raises his hand and the crowd falls silent.
As the crowd quiets, Councilman Hearthmount begins to speak.
"Thank you all for coming out this evening. I know that the events have been happening around Ravengro have been unnerving and that there are no easy answers, but we've decided that enough is enough. We have come up with a solution that we believe will help the town return to the quiet that we all enjoyed before these events."
Before he could finish, a man stood up from the crowd. "It's about time!! Ever since that damn professor was buried things of gone wild around here. Dead coming back to life and people like Gibbs nearly beating himself to death every night in the jail? This ain't normal!"
The crowd began to become restless, some shouting in agreement to the claims, others shouting out things they saw. One lady shouted out "Things have just gotten weird! I saw two giant bee-looking things swaying to music just out back of the tavern. They just a-swayed back and forth, like they was mesmerized!" Another man stood up "I saw ghosts right outside Gibbs shack, looked like they were doing a dance or a chant or something! And he came out and he was dancing with them, and howling at the moon like a wolf!"
The Councilman's fist came slamming down on the podium, creating a loud crashing noise and silencing the room.
"Enough! What we came here to do is present a solution." He swept an arm right and then left, motioning to the group. "These travelers, all friends of the professor, have found evidence that a larger power than we can understand is at play, combining the dark history of the Harrowstone Prison with an even darker group that seeks the power of the undead. They believe that this is what Lorrimor was investigating and that these people are what brought about his death as well as the escalating events that have happened around our town. They have volunteered to go out to Harrowstone tomorrow and investigate and hopefully bring an end to the problems that have been occurring, or at the very least shed light on what we ourselves can do. It is of grave importance that all the town understands that the ban on travel on or around Harrowstone still stands, we are simply giving this group a special permission to investigate and report back their findings. Under no circumstance is anyone to follow them. Anyone who is caught trying to get into Harrowstone will be thrown into jail until the investigation is over. Is this understood?"
A grumble rolled through the crowd as each of them began to look up at your party, wondering out loud about your ability to rise to the task. A man spoke up, "How do we know they can do it? I mean, I've seen a few of them, the good looking one, the scared looking one, and that short man, they took down a group of the monsters right in front of the general store. But, this is Harrowstone. I mean Harrowstone...!! Are they good enough?" Another man stood up, "And didn't you all notice that since they showed up is when all the bad stuff happened, maybe they're cursed!" The grumbling in the crowd got much more intense. Hearthmount bangs his fist but to no avail, people are beginning to grow more and more panicked. Hearthmount shoots a look over his shoulder to the other council members, and you can see he's nervous.
As things begin to slowly unravel, you hear a loud bang in the room. Five of the lanterns that had been hanging on the walls spontaneously combust, shooting flames everywhere! The townspeople begin to panic, gathering their things as they get ready to rush to the exit, the only door in the building, the front door. You see the Sheriff who had been standing at the door motioning for everyone to move his way, shouting at them to hurry up. The counil seems almost frozen, not sure what to make of all this.
seeing the panic rise Janasen steps up speaking loud enough for the whole room to hear "Everyone remain calm and we can all get out of here safely. walk quickly but do not run to the exit. Women, children, and the elderly first(assuming there are children if not scratch the children part)."
2 potions lesser restoration
1 scroll of detect undead
1 scrolls of hide from undead
2 scroll of protection from evil
Baris hops up and moves to the edge of the platform, then he looks around hoping to see a person who did a spell or looks odd. Perception check.
Not easily scared by magic tricks, Tev strode up to the center of the platform next to the councilors. This disturbance had to be intended to cause more panic, and it was succeeding. If they could not file out of here quickly and orderly, this could get bad. Tev didn't think that this fire trick was the only thing that was about to happen. He started focusing Detect Magic on the left side of the room and spoke in Tuoni and Radim's direction: "Someone Detect Evil!"
Alyssa couldn't detect evil, but she could easily tell what Tev was up to. Careful to hide her hand as it took a firm hold of the hilt of her sword, she strode up to stand to the right of the councilors and focused Detect Magic on the right side of the room. She kept her mouth shut, hopeful that Janasen's efforts to calm the crowd would not go unheeded and knowing that if she tried to speak she would only risk thuarting his efforts with a show of intimidation.
5 +1 Ghost Arrows
2 +1 undead bane arrows
3 Haunt Siphons
5 Potions Cure Light Wounds
2 Potions Lesser Restoration
2 Scrolls of Hide from Undead
1 Scroll of Protection from Evil
Touni spares a moment to admire Janasen's ability to control the crowd. He could be a great leader.
Seeing the spellcasters and Baris observing the room, Touni ops for more direct action. Rushing to the nearest flame, Touni removes his cloak and attempts to smother the fire, shouting at the Sheriff to do the same with the lantern near the door.
As Janasen steps up and speaks the crowd seems to listen. They begin to move in a more orderly fashion, allowing them to move faster.
Tuoni manages to put out the flames near him, smothering it with his cloak.
As you being to detect magic, Tev and Alyssa feel the mix of the auras that they have felt this entire time, but the strongest they've ever felt. There is no particular area that this is coming from, it's as if whatever you felt before is getting stronger... and angrier.
As the crowd continues to move, the flames begin to spread. Some of the townsfolk come in contact with the flames, cough due to the smoke and pass out from the heat, becoming unconscious.
Baris whispers to those adjacent to him, "I see floating skulls outside the windows."
Baris jumps down and goes for the nearest fire, he will use his cloak to smother the fire next round, he stopped with 5 feet between him and the fire.
Touni rushes towards the next fire, cursing himself for wearing his armor and choosing the wrong side to stand on. The fire was no immediate danger to anyone on this side, but it would take time across. Time they did not have. It would be up to the others. Shouting to those on the stand, Kendra! Radim! Help Baris with that fire! Get those people to safety!
The initial impressions coupled with Baris' testimony was enough for Tev, and he stopped doing Detect Magic in favor of rushing to help. "Floating skulls," he muttered aloud as he took off. "What'll they think of next?" He would probably ruin his new borrowed clothes by doing this, but they would thank him in the end. He started by running around the side of the hall the way Baris had, but the flames blocked him off from getting to the people who had fallen unconscious, so he tried to go around by climbing over the second bench.
Alyssa took to the other side of the room, moving as quickly as she could to assist Tuoni with the flames now climbing the right walls.
As she ran she pulled her heavy woolen cloak off, preparing to use it to help smother the flames.
As Janasen makes his way over to the fires to his right "Your all doing great just stay calm and moving forward anyone capable and willing to help please do so make sure that those that need assistance get it. Baris if you would the fire to your right I will take the one straight ahead."
**Round 2**
It is almost Baris's turn again and as long as a fire does not sprout up in front of him he takes a five foot step and attempts to smother the flames with cloak... Baris quietly says to Janasen, "Will do Janasen, we have skulls outside, probably the cause of the fire, thanks for the inspiration." CMB vs. fire
Baris does not do a very good job, At least I didn't spread the flames, oops maybe I did.
As Tuoni continues to beat on the fire, the one in front of him goes out, but then it continues to spread in the opposite direction.
Baris swings at the flames, but cannot seem to put them out.
Tev manages to swing himself over the benches and keep his balance.
The two townspeople continue to remain unconscious under the flames. More townspeople manage to escape with Janasens encouragement spurring them on.
Sheriff Benjan manages to get through the crowd and put out one of the flames. Two of the townspeople find themselves trapped between two of the fires.
The flaming skulls continue to float outside, their empty sockets staring in through the windows.
Not thinking he had a good chance to put out the fire with the light clothing he was wearing, Tev attempted to drag one of the unconscious civilians away from the flames toward the center aisle.
Baris attempts to quench the flames with his cloak...
Baris smiles at finally getting it put out, then frowns as the fire keeps spreading.
Continuing to beat at the flames, Touni moves forward to allow Alyssa more room. Seeing the two women caught between flames, Touni shouts to them, Climb over the benches and join the others! Civilians!
Tev manages to pull one person out of the flames, stabilizing them in the process.
Baris, despite his disappointment in the flames spreading, manages to put out another part of the fire.
Tuoni calls out to the women running back and forth, but they can't seem to figure out what to do, looking around in a frenzy. He does manage to put another part of the flames out.
The council and Kendra seem to wake out of this two round daze that has plagued them since the DM kind of forgot about them and started rushing around towards their respective things that the AP says they should be doing.
Kendra swats at the flames nearest her but doesn't manage to put them all the way out. The other people from the council get closer to the flames, hoping to help put them out and keep the town hall from burning down completely.
vaulting over the bench Jansen reaches down to pick up the unconscious woman. standing back up he calls to the girls that are panicking "try to calm down you can do it help each other through this."
Alyssa moves in and doesn't hesitate to use her cloak to beat at the flames.
Tev gestured to the people in the middle hallway, pointing at the civilian he had just dragged out of the flames. "Someone take her out of here!"
With access to helping put out the flames still blocked off, Tev went to drag away the next unconscious civilian, having to climb over the next bench to get to her. Like the other, he would drag her toward the middle.
The crowd continues to file out of the town hall, still feeling inspired by Janasen’s very diplomatic call to order. Well over half of them have escaped the blazing inferno. Tev manages to leap over the bench, just not very gracefully.
In spite of the council and Kendra joining in on the firefighting only Vashian manages to put out any of the flames. And as if that’s not quite enough to deal with, you hear a crash through the windows in the front of the room. The two flaming skulls that were hovering outside make their appearance, hovering and spitting flames from all openings.
The two women trapped by the flames are continuing to be closed in on and are beginning to panic. They aren’t listening to any reason.
Having a vantage point from the middle and seeing the situation start to change, Tev decided that they needed to be doing things a little different. Gesturing at the group with Jansen, he exhorted them, "Forget that fire. Help with us down here! Someone smash that skull!" By 'down here' he meant toward the entrance where the sheriff was about to be overwhelmed by the flames that threatened to block the exit. Still not holding anything that he could use to help stamp out the fire, he extended his hands to the two women who were cut off from the exit by the fire. "Come over this way! I'll help you."
The sound of breaking glass draws Touni's attention away from the two women he was trying to help. Seeing the flaming skulls, Touni makes an exulted shout! Here is something he is more suited for dealing with. Drawing one of his sharpened disks, he lets fly over Alyssa's head. Duck!
Baris takes a step away from the flames, knowing that with the skulls gone the fires could be handled easier. While moving he pulls out his sling and loads it. "Here we go again!" Baris yells.
Ranged Sling attack, damage.
Alyssa too had been turning her head to the sound of breaking glass and only barely ducked Tuoni's chakram flying over her head, wincing as she felt the disk just graze the tip of her horn.
Cursing the paladin/inquisitor under her breath in every language she knew, she shoved her cloak into Kendra's hands ()to continue beating at the flames.
Moving to put herself between the council woman and the nearest flying skull, Alyssa kept one hand on the hilt of her sword and raised the other to cast a spell.
Rooted to the spot where he had been since the flames had first appeared, Radim shivers and tries to make sense of what these... things are.
... Nope.
Continuing to call out encouragement Janasen racks his bardic knowledge for the answer to the skulls also attempting to put out the fire in front of him
The chakram whizzes by Alyssas head, nearly taking off a lock of her hair, and buries itself in the skull, shattering it to pieces.
Baris’s sling connects with the other skull, taking a chunk out of the bone in the eye socket.
Tev manages to pull the first girl to safety, allowing her to flee the building. Her friend sees Tev offering help and runs up to the space she was standing in.
Neither Radim nor Janasen can figure out exactly what these things are, the only sense they get is that whatever is out at Harrowstone does not want them to complete their task.
As the flames spread two more people fall unconscious, a townswoman and Kendra Lorimor herself!
The two councilmen and the other councilwoman manage to beat down some more of the flames and with the help of Alyssa they extinguish the rest of the flames on the right side of the room. Benjan beats down another flame in the front hoping to get to the girl that has fallen.
"NO! Not Kendra! Please, someone help to pull her out!" Councilman Vashian cries as he beats down the flames near her.
Baris quickly moves towards his foe! He will jump up hoping to get the height to hit the flaming skull.
Acrobatics to jump to the enemy.
He will pull one kama on his way to his enemy. Attacking with a kick.
unarmed strike attack, damage, if undead another 1 damage.
And with that Kama slash the final skull fell into pieces, neutralizing the threat of attack. Meanwhile the remaining fires continued to rage.