"Actually, there were six graves... Rachel, Karin, Maarten, Gaard, Allan, Ellsa."
"I think you all do this to torture me. Six? Farg me. Six." Kevin continues to lay on his back and look up at the sky.
"We are all tired, that is why we are making mistakes."
Galadan frowns as he also looks up at the sky.
"I can only hope that we will not make such mistakes in combat."
Wren wonders why they choose to continue, but will reload his crossbow nonetheless and prepare to join them.
If this is a wraithspawn, Galadan charges again.
for
"Pharasma forgive me if this causes you pain." he says through gritted teeth.
Round 1, Init 18
On her turn, Wren will draw and load her crossbow.
I can't do much. Maybe I'll cheer. My friends just love hearing my voice.
Kevin frowns and readies his axe.
Come get some.
Power attack
Damage
Make that a charge and add +2 to hit please
'Aldous' steps up, and gingerly touches Kevin's shoulder, filling his mind with giddy, insane whispering, which urges him to attack the wraith...
Power attack:
Damage
"Three left" Andrea states bluntly.."Three poor children to lay to rest and then we go for their Master."
She hands out vials of holy water to Nym and Wren..
"Save these for the Master Wraith..the power of Desna still holds true in the water and it will burn his foul spirit""
Power attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Damage 1d6 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 4 = 12
On his next turn, Galadan shifts to a flanking position and strikes again with the enchanted mace.
for
Sorry just wondering usually these things go down faster than panties on prom night.
Power attack
Damage
"I am glad that you have that axe, Kevin..."
Andrea moves her ward to Kevin..
Wren puts away her crossbow and draws her dagger.
The dagger is shaped like a raptor's claw reaching for prey.
I'll stab the next ghost I see.
"Come along, dearies, let's find the rest. If we're going to do this, we might as well get it over with."
Of course, we could just return and tell the court what is actually responsible here since we now know... Wren mutters to herself.
But we have no proof..that is why we need to search the Houses, there might be a record of the occurences here.
Kevin dosent bother saying anything after the last wraith falls he just stnds there breathing hard and sweating.
"Our observations should be proof enough. There are even spells available that ensure we tell the truth."
Galadan has recovered from his endeavor and looks sadly at Kevin, who seems weaker.
"If you would like to trade off for the next attack, I shall only be too glad to strike first. As a servant of Pharasma, I wish to see that these undead be shown back to their rest."
He turns to Wren.
"I don't suppose you have any magic missiles? Force effects will damage the incorporeal."
|
It is getting late. There is still a far way to travel back and maybe even to chat with Stiches. And the proceedings will be soon enough. But you feel you have managed a lot.
You cleaned the Alchemist lab and got one alive. You also have lots of evidence from there. Difficult to believe that this was the same day. And while you can't take a wraith with you - at least you know that Stiches wasn't responsible here - even if he was around.
Wren chirps nervously as she white-fistedly holds on to her dagger, ready to begin to stab wraiths.
"I don't suppose you have any magic missiles? Force effects will damage the incorporeal."
Wren titters a laugh at Galadin's question.
"Would that I could Galadan...for a night's sleep, I would gladly try to make that happen..." Wren yawns, pointing her dagger in the air as she stretches, "...but it seems like forever since I last read my book and slept a night."
Andrea concurs..as the risks are too great and Kevin already needs restoration.
Very well back to town it is..
Kevin looks at Andrea then laughs silently, his sholders shaking. It is about time. I need to refill my flask.
"Come along, dearies. We don't want to be caught in this 'town' after dusk. We need to go save Stitches." Wren begins bustling back to town, still clutching her dagger.
"That was not the sort of Restoration I was thinking about you ninny.Now let's be out off this place of death before any more of those poor souls find us"
Andrea stalks off after Wren
|
|
You manage to get safely back to Lepidstadt. It is long past midnight when the tired group arrives back.
It is a short night as you want to meet up with Stiches ahead of the trial. The spellcasters seem to sleep a little bit longer - especially Wren hasn't been seen yet - she only stumbles into the rest of the party as the very last.
Galadan stomachs the exhaustion, and the trial for a long time, confident that they had found significant evidence over the past 24 hours to redeem Stitches of the first two accusations.
Wren slumps on her bed in her rented room, almost too tired to sleep.
"Well, Plumie, we're back. Now what?"
The bird does not answer.
"Sleep, Plumie? Sleep?"
The bird still remains silent.
Wren nods quietly, ceding the argument to the bird and falls to her pillow.
"You're right, Plumie, as usual. Tomorrow, we will address the court and win the freedom of Stitches. We shall talk because people *LOVE* to hear me talk and our good friend Stitches will go free." Wren lays her head on her pillow, her voice trailing off as sleep overtakes her.
"G'nigggghgghg Plummmggkaghg..."
Wracking snores rumble through the room as Wren drifts off to sleep.
* * *
Though tired, Wren wakes the next morning with a start, anxious to find a way to help Stitches.
"Plumie, wake up! Wake up! We have to save Stitches!" Wren hastily dresses and prestidigitates herself clean, then spends several moments pressing a few bent feathers back into shape.
Everyone will be so happy to see me at my best today...I know they will all be honored to have me speak on Stitches' behalf!
Wren quickly packs (including her spellbook) for the day at Court, an hurries out of the room to meet the others.
Wren walks to the Courthouse mentally preparing the words that she might speak on behalf of Stitches.
Kevin limps his way back home with others.The swordsman falls into bed and quickly falls asleep. In the morning, he moves down stairs to meet the others. Eventhough he now wears his fine clothes the swords man looks horid. His clothes seem to be made for a larger man and his eyes are dark and sunkin in to their sockets. Grey can be seen in the young man's hair. This is definetly not the swordlord's best day.
Andrea's sleep is troubled..her mind filled with thoughts of the poor Children condemmed to undeath by the cruel Wraith.As she struggles with her nightmares however she seems to har a soothing female voice calming her urging her to take up the fight to destroy such creatures.She awakens with new purpose. and, sorting through the collevtion of holy symbols from the Prison selects that of Pharasma.Hanging it around her neck she heads to the court.
At the trial she will let Aldous speak .She will step in if he seems to be failing but generally will merely assist him in the presentation of the evidence.
|
|
Day 2: Court Proceedings
If anything, the crowd is larger today, and is alive with talk of yesterday's events. The clerks arrive early to prepare the courtroom, and as the time approaches 10:00 a.m., the other members of the court arrive. Today's events whip the crowd into a frenzy. They are angered at the deaths of the children, and are even louder than yesterday.
|
|
10:00 a.m.: The Trial of the Beast resumes. Chief Justice Khard asks the prosecution to outline the details of the alleged events in Hergstag.
10:30 a.m.: Witnesses for the Prosecution. The prosecution describes the events that transpired in Hergstag 7 months ago, alleging that the Beast slew six children and, when caught, was driven from the village. Otto calls three former residents of Hergstag, the sisters Garrow, Starle, and Flicht, to give their eyewitness testimony of events in the village.
12:30 p.m.: Witnesses for the Defense. Gustav calls the PCs to present any evidence they found in Hergstag.
Wren walks into the courthouse and awaits their turn to present evidence while holding her spellbook on her lap, trying to quickly learn her spells in between listening to the court drama.
I wonder if I should interrupt here. I'm sure the judge would appreciate me correcting him on some things he's doing wrong. People love it when I help them do their jobs!
Aldous awakes, feeling remarkably refreshed; the events of the past day seeming almost to have been a dream...
...still, there was a faint, niggling memory of pain, which he buried as he joined the others for breakfast.
Aldous ate in silence, unable to meet the eyes of his compatriots.
What must they think of me?
Still, when the time came to present evidence, he managed to smooth down his clothing, doing his best to look decent, respectable, and above all, trustworthy.
When the time comes to speak, he rises with alacrity, and begins:
"Esteemed justices, and other members of the court, we have additional evidence to prevent on behalf of 'The Beast'.
'The Beast' stands accused of the murders of six children from Hergstag, on the strength of the fact that it came into the village, carrying the body of Ellsa, and apparently 'laughing'.
However, what needs to be understood is that 'The Beast' was not laughing, it was in fact crying; but because of the fact that it is a creature formed through magic, it is unable to physically shed tears, and because of the scar tissue around its face, a rictus of pain appears to be a grin."
"Moreover, when we investigated the village, we discovered it to be abandoned by the living, but still inhabited by the unquiet dead - we encountered the spirits of three of the children, who had risen as wraith spawn. Fortunately, we were able to return all three to Pharasma's embrace, but they kept calling out for a 'Brother Swarm'... Now, according to my esteemed colleague, an Inquisitor of Pharasma," Aldous nods to Galadan, "wraith spawn are formed when someone is killed by a fully-fledged wraith, thus, it is reasonable to assume that this 'Brother Swarm' is probably such a creature, and that he is the one who actually killed them; certainly, 'The Beast' could not be responsible - he is clearly a corporeal being, and no wraith."
"Although it is a separate matter, I would urge the Court to allow us, once this trial is completed, to conduct a more thorough search of the village - if the other three children are in a tormented state of undeath, they must be allowed to rest, and this 'Brother Swarm' must be destroyed!"
Aldous pauses, to allow that he has said to sink in.
"Additionally, we have come across additional evidence linked with yesterday's proceedings, and potentially linked with those of tomorrow."
"You will recall that yesterday, we presented evidence from Morast, which included a face... a face that had been carefully removed for use as a mask. Along with that mask, we discovered a set of surgical tools," (Aldous motions for the tools to be brought forth) "with a unique identifying mark upon them; we were able to trace ownership of the tools to Vorkstag, of 'Vorkstag and Grine's Chymic Works'."
"When we investigated, we discovered that nothing there was as it seemed, and none of the residents were remotely human; the 'guard animal', if you can call it that, was a golem in the shape of a hound, constructed from stitched flesh; the workers were Mongrelmen, and the owners were far from human - according to my colleague," Aldous nods to Andrea, "Grine was a 'Dark Stalker', a Darklands humanoid with the ability to create Darkness in the brightest light, who exploded when we attempted to subdue him. Vorkstag, too, was... less than human... he turned out to be a sadistic Fey creature known as a 'Skin Stealer'; naturally skinless, they are able to disguise themselves as other creatures, by wearing the stolen skins of their victims. Fortunately, we were able to bring him into custody."
"He confessed to being the one to loot the bodies from the cemetery in Morast, and to trying to frame 'The Beast', citing the fact that the bodies there were remarkably well preserved, and that there were people here who would pay handsomely for well-preserved body parts. This trade is quite substantial; investigating the downstairs storage, we discovered a large subterranean chamber, filled with chilled bodies, assorted body parts from exotic creatures, and a ledger, detailing all of their business deals... and one of those regular contacts was a Dr Brada, of Karb Isle, who is connected with tomorrow's proceedings."
With a flourish, Aldous produces the ledger.
"Vorkstag's story is further corroborated by the fact that he has scars consistent with a Caiman attack... and a Caiman was the creature identified as the one to 'take down' 'The Beast' in Morast."
"Finally, we have... this. I warn you, it is quite foul."
Aldous gestures for two sturdy attendents to man-handle an ominous-looking cabinet into the courtroom.
"Inside this cabinet are nearly a score of human skins, used by Vorkstag to impersonate a range of people over the years. Apart from being evidence of truly heinous practices, of more immediate relevence to this trial is that one of those skins is the disguise used to impersonate 'The Beast' in Morast."
Aldous strides across the floor of the courtroom, and opens the cabient to reveal the gory contents.
"That is all of the evidence that we have to present today."
[Ooc]Nicely done[\ooc]