GM Nayr |
Knowledge local and knowledge history checks both work for the prisoners. You can think of more than a few priests that could have been called tricksy in history, but you can't pinpoint one that could match specifically into the girls' song. Feel free to roll to see if you can think of anything - that goes for Vrilli and Leeoli both - you can try religon, history, local. Successes for each will give you different information. Other than that, diplomacy checks with the locals could help, just make sure you ask them the right questions.
GM Nayr |
The five most notorious prisoners in Harrowstone at the time of the great fire were Father Charlatan, the Lopper, the Mosswater Marauder, the Piper of Illmarsh, and the Splatter Man
Please roll another knowledge local if you want to see if you know more of the prison itself than was already discovered.
GM Nayr |
No problem at all Vrilli; the formatting can be tricky. Just to make sure - do you have actual ranks in the knowledge skills? These are trained skills, which means that if you don't have ranks in them, you can't use them. Further complicates the system, I know. The idea is that your knowledge is something that you had been taught by a mentor or university.
Leeoli Maleye |
I seem to recall Prof Lorrimor telling me that, originally, Harrowstone housed only local criminals, but as the prison’s fame spread, other counties and distant lands began paying to have more dangerous criminals housed within the prison’s walls. At the time of the great Harrowstone Fire, the number of particularly violent or dangerous criminals imprisoned within the dungeons below was at an all-time high.
The five most notorious prisoners in Harrowstone at the time of the great fire were Father Charlatan, the Lopper, the Mosswater Marauder, the Piper of Illmarsh, and the Splatter Man
Zazaria Rooke |
Zazaria shakes her head vigorously, trying to clear away a fug of beer. ooooh, I do wonder if the song those girls were singing is about these notorious prisoners...the tricksy father, is that this Charlatan you mentioned, d'you think? Didn't it say something about lopping heads, too?
She puts down her mug excitedly with a loud bang, then blushes again.
I really shouldn't drink.
After a studied pause, she meets Leeoli's eyes, then Asenath's. We must know more. There is danger here, vast and shadowy. Don't you feel it?
Leeoli Maleye |
Let us see if we can make matches.
1. Father Charlatan,
2. the Lopper,
3. the Mosswater Marauder,
4. the Piper of Illmarsh,
5. the Splatter Man
And the song goes:
Put her body on the bed.
Take a knife and lop her head.
Watch the blood come out the pipe.
Feeds the stirge, so nice and ripe.
Drops of red so sparkly bright.
Splatters spell her name just right.
With a hammer killed his wife.
Now he wants to claim your life.
Tricksy father tells a lie.
Listen close or you will die.
Leeoli pauses for breath.
Fiver prisoners, five sets of rhyming lyrics.
Put her body on the bed.
Take a knife and lop her head.
maybe the Lopper.
Watch the blood come out the pipe.
Feeds the stirge, so nice and ripe.
maybe the Piper of Illmarsh.. The verse mentions pipes and stirge are mosquito like beasts...matching Illmarsh, perhaps.
Drops of red so sparkly bright.
Splatters spell her name just right.
The Splatter Man I presume.
With a hammer killed his wife.
Now he wants to claim your life.
I'm not sure, but
Tricksy father tells a lie.
Listen close or you will die.
Father Charlatan, as you say. Leaving the hammer man as the Mosswater Marauder perhaps.
Leeoli drinks his second beer, motions for a third.
Sometimes beer is better than all this.. Leeoli motions with his hand at the world.
Vrilli |
To me it seems as if the verse is a mix of descriptions of past crimes and warnings or hints about how to deal with them. Tricksy father tells a lie, listen close or you will die- a deathly riddle perhaps? ... now he wants to claim your life- a potential battle for those who would pass a certain way? Food for thought... Vrilli trails off, then looks around to see if his meal has arrived yet.
Leeoli Maleye |
Looking at the elf,
Yes the final verse is troubling. While the five verses seem to describe each of the murderers, they also appear to describe a single, ongoing event...a joint murder event?
We do know that the warden's wife.was in the prison that night, for unknowm reasons. Instinct suggests to me that if this is not merely a kids rhyme, it is describing a dark sacrifice by five killers of the warden's wife! but then, that is just a gut inference.
Leeoli Maleye |
Not neccessarily old. The Whispering Way, of which I will now refer to as 'the W', seeks immortality..perhaps as men, or perhaps as undead. The professor writes of the W's interest in the events at the prison...perhaps the five were successful?
Zazaria Rooke |
The Professor left books, too, that may be of use. Asenath, I know, is avid to read them. Perhaps there is some insight to be found there? If only we could talk to Petros...
A tear forms, unheeded, in the corner of one eye as Zazaria stares into the distance. Then she shivers suddenly.
Perhaps we can...
Leeoli Maleye |
After a long evening Leeoli gets up, and heads over to see the Innkeep to pay his tab (and pays), then indicates to his companions that he is ready to stumble out the door. iy'm nnot a lman with many frisnd,e and no talengt at convincing them to bie either. biut i lam glapd to have met. i want to sege dto omy horse, and in the morning, deciode what to do. i could ugo wbith uyou to thse temlpe, but i'd be of litlte use convincing thme to let yoau in; theyd' noet like imy grgacy face. qi've a mind jto go look at this memorial in thfe morngin
okay?
or wse migght go tro teh osther pub, thfe dancing deomn..and drinkk more
Clearly, Leeoli is ready to drink more.
GM Nayr |
Miss Vai returns often and unburdens herself of a great deal of her ale each time. She's a humble and attentive Innkeeper, and she tends to many guests throughout the meal and evening's discussions. Mostly farmers and simple laborers, each and every one casts a wary eye at the group of newcomers, and leaves after only a drink or two, obviously having had heir fill of drink, or the company.
Miss Vai does some quick math. Two silvers each, please. Will you be coming back for accomodations?
Where to?
Leeoli Maleye |
Sobering up some, Leeoli fishes out 1 gp and hands it to Miss Vai
We thank you for your generous hospitality. Folk around here are suspicious of strangers, and so I will not impede your business any longer and stay woth our friends. Still we are honorable and honest, merely in town grieving at the loss of a friend. If any ask about us, we would appreciate a kind word from you on our behalf..
diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (7) - 1 = 6
helpmeout with some diplomacy rolls, companions
Zazaria Rooke |
yes, Miss Vai...we must seem so strange and threatening to your patrons...interlopers, disturbing your town's peace. I am sorry if we have been difficult tonight...but we have enjoyed your food and ale! Please, accept our thanks, and Pharasma's blessing upon you and all you love...if there is any way I, as a priest, can help you, you have only to ask.
Zazaria's homely face creases in a smile, but her eyes remain sad.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Sorry, Leoli...Zazaria's a little too emotional for diplomacy. Maybe Gerion will wield his charm and good looks in our favour
Asenath Drăgoi |
Asenath hums tunelessly for a moment, and then sings, "Take a knife and lop her head./Watch the blood come out the pipe." She absently fishes for some coins and drops them on the table, showing little enthusiasm for the food and drink before her. The talk of the prison, and its former occupants, has gained her interest.
Suddenly, she says, "I am happy to have a look at the Unfurling Scroll," glancing at Zazaria.
Knowledge (history): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Knowledge (history): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Perform (sing): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Asenath Drăgoi |
Perhaps we can...
"Yes, we should, he is waiting for us. It must be lonely, and I doubt he wants to return to the prison. Maybe he never left? Alone, imprisoned in the darkness with those monsters..." Asenath stares off into the distance for a moment, "He has left us clues, like droplets of blood on fresh snow. All we have to do is follow... lest we fear the darkness and lose the scent?"
These humans are prey for monsters...
"...I think I have found my appetite."
She begins eating.
Leeoli Maleye |
Aside from her aquantance with the professor, Asenath has given few indications she is trustworthy. I worry about her motivations.
Vrilli: Just to clarify since you are new to pathfinder I hear. While you are welcome to decline to be diplomatic as a character concept, if you didnt roll because you thought you couldn't because Vrilli hadnt taken a skill point in diplomacy, you should know that many skills can be used without skill point training,like diplomacy, while others require training first, like Knowledges.
GM Nayr |
Miss Vai smiles graciously at Leeoli and Zazaria as she deftly scoops up the coins. Of course; these are good folk who want nothing more than the safety of their own. I will tell them that you are of like mind.
At Asenath's song, her face pales slightly. She suddently seems in a hurry to see you out. Well then, I wish you luck on your way. She excuses herself, indicating the needs of her other patrons.
Leeoli Maleye |
presuming Leeoli make it safely home. In the morning Id like to inspect items collected previously, to see if i might learn anything. Then I would suggest to the companions to venture out to inspect the memorial, unless they have good social skills, to them I might suggest talking to folk in town, or visit one of the destinations mentioned previously
GM Nayr |
Mysterious roll: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Evening has fallen into night, and the darkness of the town is more than just a visual feature, it's a palpable feeling as the townsfolk stay within their homes or businesses. The occasional passerby gives the newcomers a steely glare, but for the most part, the streets are empty dark, damp and cold.
On the road south away from the city, the businesses give way to farms and isolated homes.
Leeoli Maleye |
Glancing around, Leeoli removes a small vial, quickly dabs a pungent liquid on his forehead, oil of BlackSkullcap.. just in case, and then removes a sunrod from his bag, unstruck.