"I'm sure Kendra is correct in the fact this is the box, but I an unsure if we should open it here or at all." Caelynn said as she picked up her package and went about opening it. She let out a small gasp when she saw what was inside. The half-elven maid brought out a necklace with a glass pendant shaped like a tear. "How darling." She said softly as she put it around her neck.
"I think we should all know the look of the books we were charged with."Quinn states, then he unwraps his own gift. Quinn smiles as he pulls out a tiny pendent of a brass lantern on a delicate brass chain, an impossibly small flame still burning inside."So the professor listened when I said I don't like the dark."he chucks as he puts the necklace on.
Burgen open his package and pulls out a light leather vest, covered in pockets. Amidst the pockets are pictures of people wielding a variety of craftsmen tools, going about a great many tasks. He slips it on with a satisfied nod. "The Professor seems to 'ave put quite the bit o' thought into these. They will serve as excellent mementos to his memory." Burgen says whilst standing up. "Now if there be nothin' else, I be off to the local smithy."
Lyra's curiosity is piqued, and she unfolds the edge of her package. A confused look crosses her face as a pair of red and orange boots catch the light.
"Ah, hmm. If I'm going to be wearing these, I might need to rethink the rest of my wardrobe to match."
Rego watches the others open their gifts. Finally he opens his and grins. "Professor, you are a man who know his audience".
The Dhampir begins putting small pieces of something together. Once assembled it is a ring that he slips on his finger. "It even fits properly".
He grins, "The first gift I ever received".
Kendra stands up and says, "You are all welcome to say here for the month. There is plenty of room and I will have extra food brought in from the general store to keep us feed. Father left plenty of money to cover the expense."
She then reaches out and opens the box. "Last night after the councilman left I came in here to be alone. After awhile I pulled myself together and started cleaning up my father's things. I found the box containing the books he mentioned under his desk. I opened it and found his journal sitting on top. I had wondered where it had gone. He never went anywhere without it. A note was attached to the front of it saying "READ ME FIRST" so I spent the rest of the night reading it."
She lays the book out in front of you on the desk so you can see the note. "Most of it is just his thoughts on what he found and what he was going to do next but it is the latest entries have me worried. I am beginning to think that his death may not have been an accident. Read these entries that I have circled and tell me what you think."
Ten Years Ago:
The Whispering Way is more than just a cabal of necromancers. I see that now. Undeath is their
fountain of youth. Uncovering their motivation does not place me at ease as I thought it might.
Their desire to be eternal simply makes them more dangerous.
Two Months Ago:
It is as I had feared. The Way is interested in something here in Ravengro. But what could it be?
One Month Ago:
Whatever the Way seeks, I am now convinced their goal is connected to Harrowstone. In retrospect,
I suppose it all makes sense—the stories they tell about the ruins in town are certainly chilling
enough. It may be time to investigate the ruins, but with everyone in town already being so worked
up about them, I’d rather not let the others know about my curiosity—there’s plenty of folks
hereabouts who already think I’m a demonologist or a witch or something. Ignorant fools.
Twenty Days Ago:
It is confirmed. The Way seems quite interested in something—no, strike that—someone who was
held in Harrowstone. But who, specifically, is the Way after? I need a list of everyone who died
the night of the fire. Everyone. The Temple of Pharasma must have such a list.
Eighteen Days Ago:
I see now just how ill prepared I was when I last set out for the Harrowstone. I am lucky
to have returned at all. The ghosts, if indeed they were ghosts (for I did not find it prudent to
investigate further) prevented me from transcribing the strange symbols I found etched along the
foundation—hopefully on my next visit I will be more prepared. Thankfully, the necessary tools to
defend against spirits are already here in Ravengro. I know that the church of Pharasma used to
store them in a false crypt in the Restlands at the intersection between Eversleep and the Black
Path. I am not certain if the current clergy even know of what their predecessors have hidden down
below. If my luck holds, I should be able to slip in and out with a few borrowed items.
Seventeen Days Ago:
Tomorrow evening I return to the prison. It is imperative the Way does not finish. My caution
has already cost me too much time. I am not sure what will happen if I am too late, but if my
theory is right, the entire town could be at risk. I don’t have time to update my will, so I’ll
leave this in the chest where it’ll be sure to be found, should the worst come to pass.
Rego's brow furrows in concern as he reads the passages that Kendra has circled.
"There are no other writings about Kendra? This is indeed a disconcerting series of entries. No doubt that is why he wished us to remain here as much to look into this as to protect you.
Tools of Pharasma to protect against spirits eh? Kendra do you remember your father wearing any new talismans or other jewelry recently?"
"I don't think so." Kendra replies.
Caelynn leaned close to Rego as she read the journal entries. "Hmmm, Perhaps I can speak with the temple here. See if he picked anything up from them or if they gave him any information upon this prison... and I think I will also go take a look at it after the month here is up." She told the group as she leaned back.
"So I know this might be a bad time to ask but what EXACTLY happened to the professor."asks Quinn
"I get the feeling the Professor highlighted these entries so we would look at them immediately.
For all we know he was rushed in doing things because he did not have the time, in fact he even mentions not having time.
Note that the journal was not mentioned in the will and found in a box that contained books that were to be delivered in the will, and the fact that a note saying read me was attached likely means the Professor was rushed and may be wanting us to act as a failsafe.
He likely wants us to carry on what he was doing as he is referring to a group referred to as Way in all of the entries adn needing to stop them."
"I assume the professor didn't have any unwanted guests you know of? He probably would have mentioned it in his journal."
"Ingrid is right - his will is a public document, he wouldn't write out all of this there, so asking us to stay with you, " she motions to Kendra, " is probably also a way to not raise suspicions."
Kendra explains, "My father had gone out for the day and had said that he was going to look at the old ruins of Harrowstone prison. When he did not return home by the next day I asked to sheriff to go check on him. He came back with my father's body stating that an old piece of the prison wall had fallen on him. When I asked to see him they refused stating that the damage had made a mess of his face and head. They did not want me to see him in that state."
"If the Professor was tailing this Way group and if they don't like folks looking into their business, I'm betting that was no accident."
“The Ghosts of Harrowstone prison are as likely suspects as the Whispering Way. We should ask father Grimburrow if he can help us or teach us how to kill ghosts when we go ask him about what the professor found or didn’t find in the grave yard.” Quinn states. Then asks “should we do that before or after we bring this hint of foul play to the sheriff?”
"How do we know we can trust any locals except for Kendra? The Professor did not seem to else why did he investigate these matters alone?"
"I think he did it alone since I'm betting most folks around here are very superstitious, and it does not help with a rumour mill in town."
Knowledge Checks
The Whispering Way
Harrowstone Prison
Harrowstone Prisoners
Harrowstone
DC 10 Harrowstone is a ruined prison—
partially destroyed by a fire in 4661, the building has
stood vacant ever since. The locals suspect that it’s
haunted, and don’t enjoy speaking of the place.
DC 15 Harrowstone was built in 4594. Ravengro
was founded at the same time as a place where guards and
their families could live and that would produce food and
other supplies used by the prison. The fire that killed all
of the prisoners and most of the guards destroyed a large
portion of the prison’s underground eastern wing, but
left most of the stone structure above relatively intact.
The prison’s warden perished in the fire, along with his
wife, although no one knows why she was in the prison
when the fire occurred. A statue commemorating the
warden and the guards who lost their lives was built in
the months after the tragedy—that statue still stands on
the riverbank just outside of town.
Harrowstone Prisoners
DC 15 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 this 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.
DC 20 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 Illlmarsh, and the Splatter Man.
The Whispering Way
DC 10 The Whispering Way is a sinister
organization of necromancers that has been active in the
Inner Sea region for thousands of years.
DC 15 Agents of the Whispering Way often
seek alliances with undead creatures, or are themselves
undead. The Whispering Way’s most notorious member
was Tar-Baphon, the Whispering Tyrant, although the
society itself has existed much longer than even that
mighty necromancer.
DC 20 The Whispering Way itself is a series of
philosophies that can only be transferred via whispers—
the philosophies are never written or spoken of loudly,
making the exact goals and nature of the secretive
philosophy difficult for outsiders to learn much about.
Harrowstone Prison
DC 10 Harrowstone is a ruined prison—
partially destroyed by a fire in 4661, the building has
stood vacant ever since. The locals suspect that it’s
haunted, and don’t enjoy speaking of the place.
DC 15 Harrowstone was built in 4594. Ravengro
was founded at the same time as a place where guards and
their families could live and that would produce food and
other supplies used by the prison. The fire that killed all
of the prisoners and most of the guards destroyed a large
portion of the prison’s underground eastern wing, but
left most of the stone structure above relatively intact.
The prison’s warden perished in the fire, along with his
wife, although no one knows why she was in the prison
when the fire occurred. A statue commemorating the
warden and the guards who lost their lives was built in
the months after the tragedy—that statue still stands on
the riverbank just outside of town.
DC 20 Most of the hardened criminals sent
to Harrowstone spent only a few months imprisoned, for
it was here that most of Ustalav’s executions during that
era were carried out. The fire that caused the tragedy was,
in fact, a blessing in disguise, for the prisoners had rioted
and gained control of the prison’s dungeons immediately
prior to the conf lagration. It was only through the selfsacrifice
of Warden Hawkran and 23 of his guards that
the prisoners were prevented from escaping—the guards
gave their lives to save the town of Ravengro.
"Hmmmm. I think we should go 'ave a look at this prison, after we get ourselves settled in. Won't do to go on poking around without a safe haven to fall back on. Burgen says, leaning on the door frame.
"I know a bit about that prison. Harrowstone was built in 4594. Ravengro was founded at the same time as a place where guards and their families could live and that would produce food and other supplies used by the prison. It was partially destroyed by a fire in 4661 and the building has stood vacant ever since.
That fire killed all of the prisoners and most of the guards. It destroyed a large portion of the prison’s underground eastern wing but
left most of the stone structure above relatively intact. The prison’s warden perished in the fire, along with his wife, although no one knows why she was in the prison when the fire occurred. A statue commemorating the warden and the guards who lost their lives was built in the months after the tragedy—that statue still stands on the riverbank just outside of town.
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 this 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 Illlmarsh, and the Splatter Man.
I always wanted to visit the place after first hearing of it. But the locals here have a reputation for being superstitious among Ustalavians, and that is saying something considering how superstitious the rest of the Country is..."
"Sounds like a colorful bunch of inmates they had. Know anything about them?" Burgen asks raising an eyebrow in a questioning look.
Rego shakes his head, "No. But their names are part of what intrigued me. If the place is haunted I would imagine that these prisoners would make for malevolent ghosts considering some of their monikers".
"Sound like nicknames given to them by the people, and likely a truth of something about them."
“This is one of the reasons I want to talk to father Grimmburow. He may know a thing or two about how to fight such evil spirits. He also might already be in on what the professor was doing in the grave yard. If you wish we can keep him in the dark about the Whispering way and that we are interested in more than sightseeing and history at Harrowstone prison, but he might help with the tools to fight the spirits.” Mentions Quinn. He continues more sternly “As for speaking to the sheriff if there is a threat to this town like a cult of necromancers, it is my civic duty to report it. But as it is also Kendra’s and you trust her, I will let her decide if we should trust the sheriff with this dire news.”
Kendra speaks up, "There are several places in town that you can look for more information about Harrowstone and The Whispering Way. I would start with this room here. My father kept notes and books on everything he was working on. The temple and the town hall my have records regarding the prison and I bet Alendru Ghoroven at The Unfurling Scroll may have some information.
Rego nods to Kendra, "Then let us start here. Then we can decide who will do what or whether we should do things together. I submit that entering into town is something I should be avoiding...
I also believe that we should start setting watches at night we do not want to be caught unawares if something does indeed seek to strike back at Kendra".
"There was something I remembered about the prison. The fire, it was a blessing is disgust. The prisoners had rioted, and with the fire the warden and twenty-three of his guards gave their lives to ensure the worst of Ustalav's prisoners died along with them." Caelynn told them. "But what I am mainly worried about is this Whispering Way... They are known to make allies with powerful undead, if they are snooping around the prison it won't end well. People who died tragic or violent deaths can leave behind spirits that are vengeful." She explained as she crossed her arms.
"I would like to speak with Father Grimmburow. Those prisoners where to be executed, so there may be something in their history books that may not be here." She said.
"Oh crap, I hope your pulling my leg on that, cause if it is real it means we are going to be in some serious sh*t."
"A prison full of ghosts, a secret cult of the undead, and a trunk of dangerous books?"
She sighs. "We should start from the smallest and work our way up - Father Grimburrow, the temple, and The Unfurling Scroll."
"I think that will be best yes." Caelynn said with a nod to Lyra. "And I wish I was Ingrid. But I'm not. I've come across them before, but only while speaking to the Professor." She told her with a sigh.
"I will volunteer to remain here and search through the Professor's room for more information. It is... better that way. Most people do not accept me as you folk all have". Rego smiles weakly.
Quinn replies “I will help him with that. I know far too little about the undead and magic to be of any help right now and this is more than a one-man job in any case.”
"I'll go with ye to Father Grimmburow." Burgen says, "Probably best not to split up too much if'n we got some cult nonsense goin' on."
"I thank you for that. I agree that none of us should go a lone anywhere." Caelynn told the group as she looked around. "Kendra dear, is there anything you need while we are out?" She asked.
"I'm not really book smart, but I'll go with someone who does not have a partner encase trouble shows itself."
You head to the temple of Pharasma, the Lady of Graves. This is Ravengro’s only religious structure, it is also the town’s most elaborate building. Its eastern facade displays an intricate stained-glass mural depicting a stern Pharasma judging Count Andachi, one of Tamrivena’s most infamous previous rulers.
When you arrive, you see an acolyte sweeping the front steps. He looks up as you approach and clearly recognizes Caelynn as a member of the faithful of Pharasma, ” Welcome Warpriestess, how may I help you?”
At Kendra's suggestion you both agree to head to The Unfurling Scroll. She informs you that Alendru Ghoroven teaches reading, history, and math, as well as beginning magical theory. He may have some information in his library about the prison and the prisoners.
You leave the house and head north into town.
As I've not any experience in research or even know what information would be of any help.
And depending on Mr Ghoroven's we might need to look else where for information..."
The acolyte responds, "Certainly. He will be in his office at this time of day. Follow me."
You enter the temple and after a few turn the acolyte stops and knocks the door to Father Grimburrow's office. You hear a voice on the other side telling you to enter.
"You have visitors Father. They would like access to the church archives." With that said the acolyte turns, nods for you to enter and then closes the door behind you.
You see the head priest motion you to the chairs in front of his desk. He waits for you to be seated and asks, "What can I do for you?"
The others have left. Kendra has gone upstairs to start packing up her father's thing and begin moving her things into his room. There are several books shelves and cabinets around the office as well as the desk. Kendra has given you permission to look through anything you like. What would you like to do?
Look at the map and tell me if you are going.
Ivy replies
"I think floor plans would more likely be stored at City Hall then a small school.
Though I do believe it'd have History of the area and local events."
Ivy gets to the door of the The Unfurling Scroll
"Which of us should do the introductions and make the request of use from Mr Ghoroven?"
"We can ask, or go there next." She waves her hand as she opens the door. "Feel free to make introductions."