Eldon seats himself and leans back a bit. Everyone knows what time it is when he does. "Well, I could help with that. You see, goldfish breeds vary greatly not only in color, but also in size, body shape and fin configuration. I'll first tell you about the various colorations, and combinations thereof. Goldfish can be found in various combinations of white, yellow, orange, red, brown, and even black."
"The goldfish generally have the 'gold' color, which is actually yellowish orange, due to a mutation. This mutation can be natural or artificially induced by breeders while the fishes are very young."
"The goldfish was also one of the earliest fish to be domesticated and it is most commonly kept in aquariums. The eggs of a goldfish hatches within 48 to 72 hours. Within a week or so the fry, which is how experts call the young goldfish, begins to assume its final shape. Although, a year may pass before they develop a mature goldfish color; until then they are a metallic brown like their wild ancestors."
When Eldon's done talking about the colors of goldfish, he continues to talk about the various sizes, body shapes and fin configurations goldfish can have.
Despite Eldon's incessant chatter filling the room, Norna concentrates intently on the brass planchette, and for a moment nothing happens. Then, a chill seems to settle in the room, almost similar to the cold spot felt at the Unfurling Scroll. Norna briefly feels something tugging at her mind, but she brushes it aside. After a short while the planchette begins to move along the board, slowly drifting from letter to letter.
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After waiting for the chills to work down the back her neck, down her back, down her legs, and out the tips of each big toe, Norna asks, "Wait, what question did we ask? Was it the favorite color one, or one about goldfish? I could see 'VARIOUS' as the answer to either, but I seem to remember we were going to ask about the undead-, Whispering Way-, desecrated monument-thing. ... Still, maybe the spirits are always angry and restless because no one takes the time to get to know them as individuals."
Norna tries again, "Yes or no, is the word being formed on the monument Versorianna?"
The board does not respond. The spirits seem to have had their say.
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Lena rolls her eyes. Norna, why would you ask about goldfish. What would goes care about that. Eldon, we don't want to know about goldfish. Goldfish are a dead (ha ha dead) issue. Focus on the prison and the whispering way, not goldfish. And anyway they are just a goldy brown, not really gold. Everyone knows that. She places the snacks she prepared for the party.
Ignoring Lena, Eldon takes five more minutes to finish his story.
"Why did you ask the board about golsfish while I already knew?" Eldon asks Norna. "Seems rather pointless."
Eldon takes one of Lena's snacks and eats it. "Delicious!"
Arval turns restlessly around in his sleep again, with all the noise around him.
"Hmmhmmhh... Fish... Gmmmfish..."
Various fish sounds very good, I'm getting hungry where are those snacks discussed earlier.
A loud banging starts the party from their reverie. You hear a "Be there there!" from Kendra. She pauses a moment and then calls up the stairs.
"I think this is the other friend of father's! You should come down to meet him, he looks well-armed!"
With the group amassed at the front door, Kendra swings it open to reveal...
"Kendra! I'm so sorry about your father, I'm sorry it took so long for me to get here. When I heard the new of his passing I tried to get here as fast as I could but was delayed, but really that's a story for another time." Rustom looks around at the others and Says "Hello, you all must be friends of the Professor as well. I am Rustom Rammashray."He reaches back and removes the greataxe that was slung over his back and he rests it against the wall and with a deep bow says "It is my great pleasure to meet all of you."
Arval wakes from the banging at the door and jumps up holding his sword. Upon noticing what has happened he follows everyone to the door.
"You gave me a start there friend! My name is Arval."
He offers his hand for a good shake.
"Ah good someone who looks like he can handle a fight, and he has a nice cleaving tool too!"
"A pleasure to meet you!" Eldon says while standing in front of the new man, who's nearly twice as tall. "My name's Eldon Appleton, you've probably heard about me. I'm rather famous, you see. Despite my reputation probably preceding me I'll let you know I'm an epic storyteller of epic stories, most of which are about my own epic adventures."
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"It's Rustom Rammashray! I can't believe it is you! It has been such a long time!" Norna leaps up and eagerly shakes Rustom's hand, important goldfish-related matters momentarily forgotten. "In fact, I have never met you before in my life, have I?! Or do you just look like someone I don't know? Well, no matter, there's plenty of time for us to find out where we don't know each other from. I see you've already met Eldon: he can get you caught up on all that has happened since our arrival here in a little less time than it has actually taken."
Kendra laughs as Norna and Eldon pipe out their enthusiastic greetings. She smiles warmly at Rustom.
"Welcome, I'm sorry that you missed the funeral. It has been difficult times."
Kendra pauses for a moment and then suddenly starts babbling, her voice higher than usual and on the verge of tears.
"It's been horrible! There's been someone defacing the memorial and walking dead and I think father's research into the Whispering Way may have got him killed! These wonderful people have been following up on his research and now they think they know who was defacing the memorial and there may be spirits at work and something is going on at the prison and people keep leaving and we really need your help!"
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and ghosts and big centipedes, and the biggest mosquitoes I have ever seen. Excuse norna, cause she's a gnome, and eldon, he just can't turn off his mouth. Oh I'm lena, vladlena if you're formal. Nice to meet you.
Lena learns forward and whispers please don't mentioned mutilated cats, the word epic and goldfishEspecially goldfish
Then she leans back.
I'll bring you up to date. A mob tried to wreak the prof's furneral, but we talked them down, the town is real unfriendly, we think the prof's death is suspicious, some organization call the whispering way was his last concern, we found a false crypt with ghost hunting stuff (we had permission), we got attacked by giant mosquitoes, giant centipedes and skeletons (oh and zombies, there were zombies weren't there), the local monument to pepole who died a few years ago has been vandalized, we think it's a man called gibbs, who lead the mob against the prof's funeral, and we are studying all the information we can on the prison, cause we think it's haunted, and we are going to guard the monument tonight.]
Lena looks and the human
so is that clear?
You know you are late for the funeral but have resolved to visit the Professor one last time regardless. The journey through Ustalav has been strange and occasionally violent; the suspicious locals of this backwards land are unaccustomed to tengu and have greeted you with fear or hostility.
You have finally come to the town of Ravengro. An enormous prison looms on a hill before the town, which aside from that seems quiet and peaceful. The directions you have lead you to an old mansion on the south side of town. There, you see a mismatched crowd of people on the stoop, talking to each other. Two halflings, a gnome, two well-armed human men, and a human woman in a dress who appears to be the Professor's daughter.
As Lena and Kendra excitedly talk about the goings-on in town, Kendra suddenly gives a cry, and points a small distance down the street. Approaching the group is by all outward appearance a humanoid raven.
"I... I think that's Kawrock! I heard he was coming too! Oh I hope the locals have been kind."
The creature approaching you is a tengu, apparently a male. Tengus are a race of avian humanoids known for their tendencies towards impulse, deception, and thievery. They do not co-exist easily with most other humanoids, but have been known to set up communities in large human cities where they can thrive despite being systemic oppression and poor treatment.
As the humanoid raven approaches you see he is dressed in leather and think hide. His feathers have a tint of grey dust on them and he keeps his distance as he asks,"is this the residence of Professor Lorrimor?"
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Norna is apparently quite unfazed by the new arrival. "A bird-man-(or woman?)-thingy. Finally, someone I can relate to!" Norna approaches and offers her hand in greeting and says, "Yes, yes it is! Hi, I'm Norna." Whispering in its ear, she confides, "Between you and me, don't be put off by the others: they're a little ... odd, but are alright once you get know them."
As the new person walks towards the group Arval looks with a strange grin.
Woah you don't see that too often!
"The prof had one hell of weird group of friends, didn't he?"
He laughs and offers his hand to the newcomer.
"My name is arval!"
He grabs Kawrock's 'hand?' and gives it a thorough shake to show off his great strenth, or so he thinks.
Kawrock does his best to meet the barrage of questions and greetings. He clicks his tongue happily before saying, "I am Kawrock a Tengu of the Phoenix Clan. I started a correspondence with the professor many years ago when he inquired about my clan's ability to revive themselves after death. I am not sure how to answer the question about my ability to speak without lips since it is something I just do without thinking about. It is nice to meet you all and I wish it were under better circumstances." He shakes the out stretched hands with his claw (it resembles a birds feet more then a humans hand).
Eldon shakes Kawrock's claw. "My name's Eldon Appleton, epic storyteller of epic stories. I'll let you know lips aren't necessary for producing most sounds. You'll notice if you try to speak without moving your lips, and just keep your mouth open. However, some sounds like the M require you to close your mouth. My guess is that closing the beak creates the same effect."
"I should also let you know I'm 100% sure Kawrock's a male tengu. Just saying it, because you may not have noticed. Tengus are a race of avian humanoids known for their tendencies towards impulse, deception, and thievery, " Eldon explains, holding his hands up in the air when he faces Kawrock. "No offense meant, of course, it's just what they're known for. Like halflings are known for talking an awful lot. Though I don't get how people got to that conclusion."
"Anyway... Tengu don't co-exist easily with most other humanoids, but have been known to set up communities in large human cities where they can thrive despite systemic oppression and poor treatment."
Kendra looks highly embarrassed at Eldon's rather clinical explanation of tengu and nervously laughs.
"Haha... forgive Master Eldon. He means we'll despite all evidence to the contrary. Kawrock - my father's will contains an agreement. If you can remain in Ravengro for a month as a sort of guardian for me, and after that deliver some books to Lepidstadt you will receive 100 platinum. The others here have agreed to the deal and are now investigating foul deeds about town."
Kendra goes on to explain the group's doings and discoveries.
"Please help them, I fear there is great evil from Harrowstone which is poisoning our town. I believe they intend to camp at the Memorial to catch the culprit tonight. Of course I can see you in and show you your room first though - you too Rustom."
"You must be Kendra, your father always spoke fondly of you. As to his will itbwould be an honor to fufill his last request. Thought it has been a long difficult journey so settling into my room sounds like an excellent idea." He clicks his tongue in amusement as he looks over at Eldon before adding,"and I would prefer a bed over a nest thank you."
"Of course you do!" Eldon says laughing. "You guys hungry? I think we still have some food left. Huh... that never happened when Burlee was around, did it?"
Kendra ushers the group back into the house and shows Rustom and Kawrock their rooms, and then sets herself to cleaning up the trail of destruction Burlee left upon his departure.
You have a few hours before nightfall which could be used for research or any activities you want to conduct in town.
As it nears dusk the group decides to make their way to Harrowstone memorial. Kawrock's presence causes quite the stir in the town, for although people were beginning to become accustomed to the strangers in town most have never seen, nor heard of a tengu. Doors, slam, people stare out from windows, and you can hear the occasional whisper about how it must be a creature summoned by a wizard, safe and under the group's control.
Thankfully your journey only takes you through the outskirts of town, and soon you are walking along the river towards the memorial. You find yourself standing before the statue of the departed warden. The large 'V' and 'E' scrawled on the memorial have been partially scrubbed off but they are still distinctly there.
With great stealth Eldon moves into the bushes at the side of the road. Moves quietly is easy enough for him, but Eldon has trouble to keep his mouth shut.
This reminds me of the one time I... Ha, we sure laughed when... And of course there was also the... Hmmm... It's not the same when I'm the only one listening.
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Norna finds a place in the bushes, and lies down, pulling out and loading her crossbow. Originally, she sat down near Eldon but, well, his thoughts were a little too distracting, and she decided she only needed to be close enough to see who the perpetrator is. She covers up as much as possible with her brown and green cloak.
Kawrock chooses to hid in the bushes near the large rock. Hoping to be far enough back to flank who ever they are trying to ambush.
While waiting Eldon takes out his loaded crossbow.
Ah, I can remember when I acquired this weapon. It was in the summer of...
Arval moves towards the Memorial and sits down against it, fully confident of his abilities. He starts whistling to kill time.
Rustom tries to hide himself in the deepest brush he can find, his heavy, clanking banded mail doing little to help him hide.
Arval sighs and follows Lena into the bush.
"Alright then!"
He said a bit agitated.
Arval whispers to the people close to him.
"Is this really necessary? Why can't I just wait there? He will probably try to kill me anyways."
The group settles in uncomfortably into the bushes and begins to wait. You're treated to a rather lovely view as the sun sets over the river and the area is plunged into darkness. A crescent moon rises high overhead, lending paltry light to the monument.
The night becomes completely silent; all of Ravengro are now in bed. And finally your patience is rewarded. Despite keenly watching the trail, you are all surprised by a figure stepping out of the woods, having slipped right past all of you (and having not seen you either), bearing a dog corpse. It is indeed Gibs Hephenus.
He jerks a longsword around the dog's neck, and holds a waterskin to the neck, blood covering him and the memorial. After he has enough blood for his grisly task, he squeezes the waterskin to form the third letter.
Kawrock
Eldon
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Gibs (surprised, flat footed)
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Arval
Lena
Norna
Rustom
Kawrock causes a small flame to appear in his claw and calls out,"we have you surrounded, drop the sword and you will not be hurt. If you are thinking about running I can promise you I can throw this flame farther then you can run."
"Drop the dog and show your hands!" Eldon shouts as he takes a step forward. "While at it, I'd appreciate you dropping the longsword as well!"
Eldon accidentally pulls the trigger of his crossbow, and shoots a bolt in Gibs. "Whoops! I offer you my sincere apologies, that was entirely unintended!"
Arval gives of a curse from the bush, as he bumped his foot against a root. Afterwards he yells from the bush.
"What the hell are you guys doing? You just shot the dude!"
He has his sword and shield ready for combat, if it is at all necessary.
"I apologized!" Eldon rebukes, reloading his crossbow. "I'm sure he understands that."
"Reloading the crossbow does not come off as very sincere."
"As you can see we are a little tigger happy so I highly recommend putting your weapons down".
Gibs is rocked by the crossbow bolt slamming into his side. However, he doesn't seem to register pain. The old man recoils and then drops the dog, brandishing his longsword in both hands. He roars in a shocking deep and powerful voice, utterly unlike the incomprehensible drawl you heard from him days past.
Rustom charges out of the bushes, axe at the ready.
As soon as Gibs readies his sword for combat Kawrock throws the flame in his claw at him.
As soon as the flame strikes Gibs a new one appears in Kawrocks claw.