Zazaria sighs heavily. I have the sinking feeling the beer isn't so good at the Outward Inn...but as you say, Rufus, the locals don't need to know...everything.. She fixes Leeoli with a mock-glare. And, yes, Mr. Maleye, we should invite Kendra to join us.
Zazaria's face puckers with sudden concern. I, too, am worried for her.
Don't go Mr. Maleye on me Zaz. I got first round.
"Right." In no mood for jokes, Rufus strides resolutely across the grounds, headed for Lorrimor House. His sword, coated in ooze slime, is still clutched in his hands. He sheathes it on the way.
Dura glances back nervously at the prison. She doesn't like to leave things undone. And somehow, it just seems wrong to her to go drinking when such horrible things are going on. On the other hand, everyone has to eat, and it'd be nice to hang out with Kendra for a bit. "Okay. After what we've seen, it might help take the edge off."
Noting Dura's hesitation, Leeoli smiles lopsidely I am sure our cups of all will animate and stick a fork in our eye. No rest for us.
You make fine time back to the Lorrimor house, which seems almost odd given the things you've been through over the past few hours. You wait for something to leap out at you...indeed, you expect it...but it doesn't come. The locals on the route actually wave at you as you trod past - a definite change from the dour looks of unwarranted dislike they'd fed you before.
Kendra is actually out in the afternoon sun - she says pruning the apple trees, but you have a feeling that she's just been waiting for you. She rushes forward, greeting Rufus first with a warm grin. She turns from him and her eyes widen as she looks at the rest of the group. She steps back and smooths her dress as she clears her throat. My, but you've no doubt been through terrible things. Leeoli, you look...slimy. And, Daniel! She rushes forward to touch the feline, then wrinkles her nose at the putrid scent and steps back. Umm...you should come inside and get cleaned up.
After an all too brief scouring, you set off with a reluctant Kendra in tow. Worries questions of "...is it safe?" and "Are you sure we should?" plague you as you make your way to The Outward Inn. Still, Kendra is quite to put on a warm smile when the proprietor, Sarianna Vai, greets her.
The Outward Inn is mutely tasteful, well furnished without being ostentatious, and private enough for meaningful conversations. Miss Vai leads you to a corner booth, and drags a few stools over to complete the circle. With few others in the Inn at this early hour - save a bespectacled gnome and a pair of tall men dressed in the exact same pressed green robes - you have some measure of privacy.
Miss Vai gives Daniel a wide berth, as she sets to getting your drinks. Kendra leans forward on the table, her eyes wide and fearful, but also touched with a degree of excitement. So, tell me how I was dying again?
Last time we did this Zaz, river zombies tried to crash the celebration. Leeoli ordered a pitcher a strong ale rich with aroma of hop. He poured glasses around, and raised his. To new and old friends, and to welcome glimmers of hope from these dark days.
"An iron maiden! Can you believe it?!" She shivers as she relates the tale to Kendra thinking about the horrible torture that presumably those items were used for. As somber as the whole occasion is, being with Kendra again makes her feel years younger. The ale helps a little, too.
To Maleye's toast, she responds, "To friends." Like the professor.
Kendra's eyes widen and she visibly swallows with a dry mouth. Even though I've seen what my father has brought to light before, I never felt like I was touched by it....it always seemed so unreal. To think that an insane evil spirit could make a perfect copy of me.... She shivers in spite of the relative warmth of the common room.
After sipping at her ale, she leans in close across the table. So, what's next? I mean, you've seen what must be the Splatter Man's domain, right? How do you beat it?
Rufus cannot help but smile, despite all the darkness, when Kendra hugs him. She is such a light in this world of gloom.
At the restaurant, Rufus listens to the menu with indifference. Ustalav wasn't known for its cuisine. Blood sausage, head cheese, ghostberry aspic, pickled pig feet. "Bread and cheese. And a mug of wine, the darker the better."
As Dura recounts the tale of the iron maiden and the puss-filled hand, Rufus is glad he skipped the head cheese. "Yes, it's really quite dreadful, Kendra. I--we were so very glad to see you're unharmed. Do mind the pruning sheers, though."
"As to how to defeat the splatter man, I fear I haven't a clue. This is dangerously new territory for all of us, and there are so many questions. But, at the least, I believe we shall rest tonight, then head back first thing tomorrow."
Leeoli nods at Rufus's assessment. I think we need to decide whether I hurt it when I threw holy water at the wall. If so, then while Zaz channels holiness we chuck holy water as a chaser. Leeoli takes a long sip of his beer, enjoying its bitterness Else, the walls are only a co-manifestation, and the splatter man is hidden somewhere within the chamber. I suggest we approach, and prior to entering, we conduct a prolonged detect undead to ascertain its nature. Our scroll to hide from undead could also be useful.
"It seems that Zaz's power seems our best shot for now. Unless we can figure out something else."
Leeoli figures that Dura's right....positive energy like holy water and priestly abilities have always been the bane of undead, and this should be no different. Also, Leeoli seems to think that there's something with the used haunt siphons...maybe warranting closer inspection
Kendra nods. I know that you'll be able to take care of it; I only thank whatever forces brought you here to this place at this time. If not, well, this town would just be a dark mark in history in a few days...I'm sure of it. I wish it were under different circumstances of course, but I'm truly thankful that my father had such good...and powerful friends.
She pauses, then clears her throat and changes the subject. So, what do you think you'll do after this? Will you deliver the books to Lepidstadt as my father asked in his will? She turns to Dura and the silent Henrik and apologizes. Sorry, you missed that part, I know...but my father wanted his books...some of them suspicious tomes...to be delivered to different scholars and colleagues in the capital city.
I planned on it. In fact, that is why I bought a horse. Thank you for caring for her, Kendra
"By all means. Of course I'd be happy to help out with any of his final wishes." She put her hand on Kendra's. "How about you? What are your plans now? Why don't you come up to Lepidstadt with me? I know the town pretty well. We could get a flat together. Figure out what you'd like to do next? And you know how Daniel misses you." She grinned and petted the tiger as she said that.
Zazaria has remained silent throughout the exchanges, sipping her beer quietly, although she has lost the taste for it somewhat. Somehow I knew it would come down to this: Pharasma's power expressed in a vessel of dubious worth against the villainy of the Splatter Man. Best prepare myself.
I wonder if it might not be wise to take an extra day? I can spend that time creating more Holy Water - and perhaps alleviating the malaise created by those foul words. And I will have one more day to ready myself for...whatever may come.
Oh Zazsh. You are more than caphable priestsh of Pharashhma. Plenty of holy wahter in mahh pockets. Leeoli puts his beer down. We jush need to figure out what to throw them at. Leeoli turns, raises his hand and orders another leg of whatever they had around.
Rufus can see there is a great weight on Zazaria. "Don't worry. We'll do our best. Taking an additional day would not matter much, would it? The prison has been haunted this long. What is another night?"
Kendra smiles at Dura, then heaves a sigh and looks back down to the drink in front of her. Thanks Dura...in all honesty, that may do me some good. But, for right now, I feel like I need to be here in Ravengro. I couldn't continue my father's work...no, he was one of a kind and I don't think I can bear that mantle. But, these are....were his people...even though some of them would rather have seen him gone long ago. I feel as if I have to be here to help put this town back together and offer some sort of stability.
With what I've learned from you, I feel as if I'd be ready to help this superstitious lot with anything they see and don't understand. Maybe, when things settle down, I can get back to the capital.
Let's play 1-4-roll, a dice game from my ol' village. Its simple. Leeoli produces 6 roughly hewn dice from a leather bag.
Everyone put 1 gold piece on the table, or silver if you'd like, for the pot.
Roll 6 dice, choose which dice roll to keep. Must keep result if 1 or 4. Must keep at least one die result each round. Re-roll remaining dice. Once done, sum all non 1 or 4 dice rolls. Highest score wins the pot. Lowest buys next round.
--
So that is how you lose. Rufus? You've always had a way with dice.
Dura nods to Kendra. "I understand. But know that you have a place to come to if you ever need a break or just want to hang out in the city."
She tries to follow Leeoli's suggestion. It's possible she's had too much to drink. "I'll get the next round, and then I think I best get some sleep." Daniel has already fallen asleep at her feet.
Rufus tries not to show his disappointment show as he overhears Kendra's rejection of Dura's proposal. Is it a rejection of the trip, based upon practical considerations, as Kendra says, or is it more personal, a desire to distance herself from them? From him?
Rufus stares at Leeoli blankly, not hearing at first. "Oh, alright. A game. Yes, why not." He draws a silver and places it on the table.
reroll
keep
reroll
keep
keep
keep
"It appears I lose this game of chance." He pushes the coin to Leeoli.
Like I said. You always had a way with dice. At Rufus tepid smile, Leeoli just decides to call it a nigh.t Let's go. Tomorrow will be longer than today, no doubt.
The remainder of the day and evening are uneventful, and you count yourselves as lucky for that, as it gives you time to heal wounds and discuss strategy. The next morning dawns with everyone back to their full health and ready for one final foray into the prison....for better or worse.
This morning is dark, and foreboding clouds threaten over the town. It's as if the weather can sense the evil from the prison and its ever-expanding influence on the outside world. The prison is as untouched as it was yesterday, and the halls echo as you make your way down them and into the dark pit below. Following the same route as before, you find yourself in the dark tunnel before the dark cellblock. The remains of the ooze from the day before have completely dissolved into the stone floor, leaving small pits where its rancid flesh ate through the ground itself.
"Okay folks. Let's finish this," Dura says, pulling out a flask of holy water.
Rufus nods, producing another pebble and crunching it beneath his teeth. He grips the filthy wall as the mutagen takes hold. Straightening, he draws his sword. "Dura, if you would, your light magic? Then, I hope, we are ready?"
Dura nods and casts light on (well, on whatever you want)
Leeoli follows suits, swallows a shielding extract, a heightened awareness extract, and midnight essence, holds a holy water in each hand, and two in his belt ring.
The main point of our investigation with the spell is to try to identify whether the walls should be our target or if their is an invisible being somewhere in the room. If so, then we can work out how to find it as it moves around.
Leeoli has the spell. We may have it as a scroll still. Also Zazaria might have it prepared.
Let's do it from say, 40' away. He will try to get as much information as possible. Once we are done and recovered, then we can buff, etc.
Actually, this might not work. Identification of an exact location will not work unless there is a clear line of sight. That might be hard. Other wisee we will just get a vague location.
I can try the hid undead scroll. Walk in there and see if it notices me. Then cast the detect undead.
"That is a dubious proposition, at best, Leeoli. So far, all we've seen is the writing on the wall. I am curious as to the contents of the oubliette. I shudder to think we should have to submerge ourselves in its waters."
Nevertheless, let me try. If it fails, I will call out and you can rush in and throw holy hell at the walls.
Rufus nods, though continues to look troubled. "Very well. We shall enter soon after."
Leeoli nods, and lets out a long sigh. He closes his eyes, as if to draw on some inner reserve of nerve. Then it is decided. Zazaria hands him a scroll that will hide him from undead. In fact he is quite familiar with this spell. Most Maleye's keep one or two around their person. He reads the spidery writing, and watches as the script fade. Can you see me? Then you are either alive or an intelligent undead thing. Congratulations.
The party creeps towards the chamber, and some ways off he motions for them to stop and wait. He slips ahead silently, and stops just at the doorway, and peers in. He waits to discover if he is detected. His extract of detect undead between his teeth, holy water in each hand.
Leeoli uses the scroll and boldly walks into the darkness of the chamber with only the glow from Rufus's light to guide his progress. No bloody letters appear on the wall, and the cellblock is as silent and still as death. Once in the center, near the oubliette, he attempts to detect any auras of the vile spirits that plague this place.
Leeoli is relived that the spell appears to hide him. He swallows the vial of detect undead.
Leeoli's spell radius spreads out throughout the room, touching the walls in the distance. After concentrating for a bit of time, the spell shows medium strength auras lining the very walls of the area It doesn't show any other auras.
Leeoli is surprised to see only the auras on the walls. He moves to explore the extent of the cavern, taking advantage of the spell that hid his presence from the undead.
He looks deep into the waters of the oubliette.
He peers into each cell of the west wall
then the northern wall and cell of the north eastern wall
When Leeoli moves close the the oubliette and stares at the dark waters, a feeling of great dread falls over him. Even as his spell reveals a strong undead aura under the surface, the feeling of his own end strikes him, like a premonition of what's to come. He gets the distinct feeling that the oubliette is a tomb.
Mother of graves Leeoli quickly exits, disturbed. He relates his findings to the party. A powerful undead evil lurks in the oubliette. The auras on the wall will have to be dealt with of course, but do not doubt that the real danger is in that dark place below.
"So, should we rain holy water down in the hole? If we take care of the spirit, will the walls still be a problem?"
She tilts her head thoughtfully. "Hey, didn't you guys say something about items associated with these villains in life that may affect them in death? Is there a corresponding item for this guy?"
I thought about that, Dura. I could try that, with surprise. Then everyone can rush in, and either throw holy water on the walls, or in thw hole if it seems to have an effect.
Leeoli recalls the item found that had once belonged to Professor Hean Feramin, the man who would eventually be called the Splatter Man. This moldy spellbook has leather bindings and is unlocked, but none had yet dared to open it. It was now back in safekeeping at the Lorrimor home.
"I am at a loss. Matters of the soul are beyond me. I fear we must simply act blindly. I will place my faith in our abilities. We have come this far, haven't we?" Rufus looks anything but faithful.