"Pretty much, yeah. That's what I've done so far. One of the reasons I came here was to talk to someone who might have some idea of what's going on with me, but it turns out he's dead and so far his books aren't any help."
Ella, frustrated by the lack of information on Judah's problems in the library, sits chewing her lip at dinner, looking disgruntled. Until, that is, he starts explaining his problems. Then she slowly sits up, listening intently.
"You say things, Mr. Locke. Are they corporeal? Do you know whether this is a haunting?" Suddenly, she frowns. "But no...if it travels with you and manifests when you sleep, it can't be...like him..."
She gazes off, lost in thought for a time. Then her attention snaps back to him. "Are these creatures dangerous? What do they look like? If need be, I suppose we could treat you like a sickbed patient. One of us sitting up with you in different watches of the night, and so on. I do wish the professor were here...I'm sure he'd be able to come up with something to counteract these strange happenings."
"I don't... really know. I've only seen the occasional silhouette or shadow, or a peice of them for a moment, and usually only when I'm just waking up or something. All the ones I've seen are different. I only really get a good look at the things they leave behind, like mangled animals, or tracks, or scratched up trees. I guess they have to be... what's that word? Corperal? Like, real, right?"
"I don't think they're dangerous to me. I mean, they've had plenty of opportunity to hurt me and they haven't. Other people though? Or their pets? Livestock? Probably not safe."
"Him? Him who, Eleanora?"
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Judah was trying to keep in good spirits, but it was clear that his body was simply failing him. He slumped in his chair when they all gathered at the inn and he poked at his food listlessly. "I... think I have to rest, folks. I was hoping not to be in town when I finally gave out, but I don't think I can make it another night."
"I got somethin' to to tell you first, and I'm hoping you can come up with some idea of what I should do, 'cause I'm kinda at a loss."
"When I fall asleep, bad things happen. Things. Kinda literally. I thought I was being followed by goblins or something at first, but they're too... weird for that. Some of them have wings. Or leave trails of slime. I only see them if I happen to wake up, but I know they're around 'cause they leave me presents. Y'know, like cats do. Corpses. Usually just birds or rats, but there was a horse once, and back in Kaer Maga there was even a person. That's why I left. I didn't want to endanger anyone else. I've been trying to stay out of population centers until now."
"That's why I haven't been sleeping. I try to hold it off as long as I can, but I've been doing it for so long now, that I can only go for two or three days before I just pass out. It happened at the sheriff's earlier when I nodded off for a bit. I'm pretty sure something was out there, but they don't like daylight much, so I didn't see 'em. I can just kinda... feel 'em when I wake up and they're around."
"I know it sounds crazy, but I swear I ain't making this up. I don't want t' fall asleep, wake up, and have someone dead."
** spoiler omitted **...
"Oh, ah..." Ella clears her throat, blushing slightly. "Well, I used to be...that is, my father's house was haunted by...a phantom. It's how I met Professor Lorrimor--he came to investigate the rumors and helped me suppress the ghost. But..." she looks away. "That ghost i--was tied to my own psyche, so it cannot manifest when I'm asleep. That can't be what's troubling Mr. Locke."
Lorant listens to Eleanora get flustered...
...and can tell she's trying to cover up what she's let slip.
Whatever this spirit is, it must be still there. That would explain her odd behavior with the clerk earlier today. Probably best not to prod. She'll tell us when she's ready.
"Makes sense. Of this, you can be sure though, if anything ghoulish manifests while you're out, I can take care of them. I never get enough sleep anyway. Insomnia's a mixed blessing in my line of work."
Judah shrugged. "If you say so. I'm going to bed. I just can't keep my eyes open anymore."
Judah trudged down the hall. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow.
Cassiel's been surprisingly quiet during all this.
As it turns out, his fatigue has caught up to him as well. His hands are supporting his drooping head and he's snoring.
Ella smiles wanly. "In some ways I'd almost prefer if the creature that haunted me had manifested while I slept...at least then it would have left me in peace. But I do not envy you."
To Lorant, she adds, "Mr. Endronil, please feel free to wake me if you need someone else to stand watch during the night."
Lorant nods and smiles back, his teeth slightly noticeable.
"Thank you, and please, call me Lorant. Come, let's get these sleepyheads back to the Lorrimor House. And don't mind the kobold under the couch. He takes Petros' request to keep Kendra safe VERY seriously."
Judah woke in a clawing sweat, gasping for air and fighting. He'd managed to wrap the bed sheets around his neck. It took him a few moments to right himself, jamming the panic down and carefully unwinding the sheet. He levered himself up and rolled out of bed, and straight to the floor with a surprised yell and a thud. One of his legs was asleep. It hadn't supported him at all and now was aching and twitching as blood flow resumed.
He rubbed his face and pushed himself back to his feet, walking out into the hall with a limp and finally noticing the amazing scent of Kendra's cooking.
When he got to the kitchen he looked like hell and stared at Kendra like she was sent from heaven. His stomach growled noisily.
"Mornin'."
Judah started to laugh, then it progressed to a cough, and then he was wiping his eyes. "Uh... yeah. Sure, I guess. I slept. That's good, right? Yeah. Anyway, doesn't matter. Whatever you're cooking smells amazing. Can I help out?"
He busied himself setting the table and pouring cups of water.
"Did anything... happen? Last night?"
Lorant stirs from his chair, having fallen asleep while reading again. He follows the smell of coffee to the kitchen hearing Judah ask Kendra about the previous night.
"Nothin'. Heard nothin' last night, no horrible things showed up, you're fine, where's the coffee?" he rambles as he collapses into a seat in front of the first mug of coffee.
"Good morning, Mr. Locke, Mr. Endronil," Ella says as she enters the kitchen. "I heard nothing last night either, though I slept...surprisingly well. Here, let me help you with that, Kendra." She crosses to the other woman's side and helps her with the coffee and breakfast, taking time to pour herself a small cup as well.
Over her shoulder, she asks, "What, ah...shall we do about our little project today?"
Lorant seems to be revitalized almost immediately by the coffee, and he takes a comb from his pocket and starts touching up his hair as he speaks.
"Please, call me Lorant. Well, we've a few options. While Mathus and I could certainly return to the town records to acquire more information on the prisoners, what we learned about the Splatter Man yesterday makes me worry. Given his modus operandi, slowly spelling out the name of his chosen victim before murdering them in a way designed to look like an accident, we're now on a time-table. We don't know who this "V" is, but if the Splatter Man has returned from the grave, or even if it's just a mortal copycat, if we don't solve this mystery before V's name is spelled, whoever they are, someone's going to die."
Cassiel wanders downstairs with his armour on and sits down at the breakfast table.
"Sorry it took me so long to get ready--my armour was giving me some trouble." Cassiel says as he takes a helping of bacon & eggs.
Cassiel immediately runs to her side, drawing his sword. "What is it?"
Ella bolts to her feet, and pulls at the neck of her bodice. A leather thong hanging around her neck is revealed, and she jerks the slim dagger hanging there out of its sheath as she follows Cassiel, eyes wide.
Lorant bounds to his feet and follows after Cassiel, the two squires ready to aid Kendra.
No telling what it is, Mathus grumbles as he makes his way after his companions.
Judah dove under the table, a dagger suddenly in his hand.
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The doorway stands wide, Kendra standing to one side screaming in terror. There, in the doorway is a well-dressed, but quite obviously deceased individual wearing funeral finery. Its face is a mess of gore, obliterated as if by a powerful blow from some giant's club. From its throat comes a low, gurgling moan... "Keeeendraaaaa!"
Ella screams in terror, and a book lying on a table in the hallway zooms through the air toward the creature!
Cassiel is equally startled by the undead beast at the door and by Eleanora's shriek of fright. His swing goes completely wild.
Lorant's eyes widen in shock.
"Petros...no..."
Then he glares, and yanks the wooden fleur-de-lis from around his neck.
"That which is sacrosanct I shall preserve.
That which is sublime, I will protect.
That which threaten, I will destroy.
For my holy wrath will know no bound.
Return to your rest, Petros Lorrimor!
In the name of the Goddesses, SO LET IT BE!"
He attempts to press the fleur-de-lis against the monster's skin.
Mathis must make a will save
for
Whenever you perceive a fey, outsider, or undead from within 60 feet, you become shaken for 1d4 rounds unless you succeed at a Will save with a DC equal to 15 + the creature's Charisma modifier. Immunity to fear effects does not allow you to forgo this saving throw; even if you are immune to fear, you must roll the Will saving throw for this drawback when applicable, albeit with a +4 bonus.
Mathis stands there and gawks, not sure what he can do.
He darts forward but is blocked by the crowded corridor.
Lorant's finishes his prayer right as the wooden fleur-de-lis makes contact with the beast's rotten flesh. Almost instantly, the symbol is lined by a silvery glow, and the creature begins to smoke as if burning from within. Lorant pulls the amulet away, revealing a brand of bright silver light in the shape of the fleur-de-lis.
Lorant traces the spiral across his chest.
"Be at peace once more, old friend."
He ties the holy symbol around his neck once more and then turns to Cassiel, frowning.
"Cas, get Kendra into a chair, make her some tea or something."
B... B.... Brandy!
Mathus reels off groping for a bottle, and tugging at its stopper in desperation.
"Eh... right." Cassiel moves to help Kendra to a chair.
Ella stares at the downed creature, still breathing hard. Oh, Professor...who did this to you?
Eheh. Look on the bright side: at least you'll be here this time for the funer--
Shut up!
Swallowing, she turns to the others. "Well struck, Mr...Lorant. Thank you. You likely saved us all." Pulling a chair up next to Kendra, she takes the other woman's hand. "There now. It's all right, Kendra. Whatever that was...it was not your father."
"Thank you, Eleanora. Probably wouldn't have managed it if you hadn't made me an opening with that tossed book."
He goes to the cupboard and looks for a spare tablecloth or something to cover Petros' body with. He didn't people watching him drag it into the house like a common body-snatcher.
Judah crawled out from beneath the table, looking a little sheepish. "So... uh, what was that?"
"Some sort of undead, surely," Ella says grimly. Then she pauses and looks over to Lorant. "Wait...what book?"
"The one you threw. Thumped him right in the chest. You've a strong arm," Lorant says with a small smile.
"The one I...oh. Oh, damn. That again," Ella mutters. She clears her throat. "Ah, yes. That was probably me. I...apologize for that. Anyway!" she turns rapidly back to Kendra. "Is there anything I can get you, dear?"
"You've nothing to apologize for. As I said, I wouldn't have gotten close enough to brand it without that opening the book made."
He joins the others with Kendra, having a seat.
"We need to inform the town. If Petros clawed his way out of the grave, the rest of the Restlands could be next."