"They will be there." Meenak says, hopping off the desk and stumbling a little, still dizzy slightly. "It makes sense. If you want to keep a secret a secret, don't tell anyone. Meenak's tribe would let new kobolds find our traps for themselves. It teaches them how to spot secrets... and eliminates the weaker ones."
Lorant blinks in shock at Meenak's oracular trance.
"Um...can we accompany the acolytes? Just in case it's dangerous? We're capable fighters."
"Very well. Thank you for your time, Father. We'll begin our studies in your archives immediately."
Lorant motions for the others to follow. When they get to the Archives, he gives Meenak a "HOLY CRAP!" look.
"How in the name of the Great Holy Donkey'd you DO that?!" he says, his tone full of awe.
Meenak follows along, clearly unhappy he doesn't get to go, but not putting up a fuss. Once in the archives, he startles a little at Lorant's exclamation, hiding behind Mathus' leg again. "How did Meenak do what!? Meenak didn't take anything! ...this time!"
"Pharasma spoke through you, Meenak! Spoke through you! That's amazing!"
Meenak slowly moves out from his hiding spot, looking up quizzically at Lorant. "She... did? Meenak doesn't know what he said. Kibbi kept whispering to me that he was hearing something, and Meenak needed to relay it."
Meenak's eyes dart up, moving back and forth as if watching something move around above his head, before looking back at the others. "Swampscales don't worship Pharasma... mostly. We look to wendo to understand the darkness. Tribe elders say that Swampscales used to worship Pharasma many clutches back, but not anymore. Swampscales talk with wendo instead - they answer more."
"Meenak isn't sure what happened - after Meenak climbed onto the desk, he let Kibbi share his body to say what he needed. Is Pharasma the one who told Grimy Barrel to look?"
"I... guess." Cassiel scratches his head. "Your way of worship is the old way, is it?"
"It's more than likely! I've heard of Pharasmin oracles capable of channeling her voice to relay things like prophecies or warnings, but this is the first time I've seen something like that in action! You've got quite a gift, Meenak. An immeasurably valuable one..."
Lorant bows to Meenak respectfully.
"Now! To business! We've got to see what these archives hold about Harrowstone."
Lorant begins searching for any scrolls or books that may hold relevant information. He focuses on local records and old obituary collections, knowing the Whispering Way line of inquiry was already exhausted. They knew their enemy. Now they needed to know their enemy's lair, and more importantly, what they wanted from it.
Aid Another Unskilled
Seeing that Lorant & Mathus have things well in hand, Cassiel turns to Meenak and shrugs. "Want to go for a walk?"
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After spending the better part of the day in research, Mathus and Lorant discover the following information:
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.
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.
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 conflagration. It was only through the self sacrifice 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.
At the time Harrowstone burned, five particularly notorious criminals had recently arrived at the prison. While the commonly held belief is that the tragic fire began accidentally after the riot began, in fact the prisoners had already seized control of the dungeon and had been in command of the lower level for several hours before the fire. Warden Hawkran triggered a deadfall to seal the rioting prisoners in the lower level, but in so doing trapped himself and nearly two dozen guards. The prisoners were in the process of escaping when the panicked guards accidentally started the fire in a desperate attempt to end the riot.
Lorant whistles at what they learn.
"No wonder the locals think it's haunted. So...You think the Whispering Way wanted to make contact with those criminals or something? Perhaps they were former members? I dunno. What I do know is I think we'll need to know more about these five criminals to know what's going on."
Meenak seems slightly shocked at the respect this apparent message has earned him. On instinct, he bowed back, though he wasn't sure why he was supposed to.
Looking up at Cassiel, he tilted his head, before thinking for a moment and finally nodding, with a slightly shrug. "Sure. Meenak is okay with that. Maybe go see the front of Harrowstone? Or... in that direction?" Unsure of where Cassiel wants to go, he opts to trail slightly behind him, following along quietly.
Cassiel shrugs. "I was just planning on seeing what's happening around town before we check out Harrowstone itself."
With that, he starts wandering towards the town square with the kobold oracle in tow.
"So, Meenak, how'd you and Kibbi meet?" He asks, scratching his head.
"Meenak was trying to exorcise spirit from Swampscale burial tunnel." Meenak explained, little yellow eyes darting about from underneath his cloak hood. After a moment, he reaches under his clothing and produces a small handful of tattered little papers, all of them featuring scribbles in Draconic. He looks through them as he keeps up with the paladin.
"Meenak isn't sure what happened. Meenak thought he completed everything correctly... perhaps it was the slurk herbal brew? Or maybe the ant-wax candles were backwards... Meenak still hasn't figured out what he did wrong. Meenak wanted to get rid of the spirit. Instead, it turned into... Kibbi." The kobold looks up at nothing with a grimace, before turning back and stuffing his notes away. "Meenak found out later Kibbi is a wendo guide, the first Swampscales have ever seen. But it doesn't explain why the ritual brought forth Kibbi. By all accounts, he should've been driven away from it..."
Meenak picks up the pace a little bit and scuttles up to Cassiel's speed. "Why is Grumpy Face here? Did Professor teach you as well?"
Lorant whistles at what they learn.
"No wonder the locals think it's haunted. So...You think the Whispering Way wanted to make contact with those criminals or something? Perhaps they were former members? I dunno. What I do know is I think we'll need to know more about these five criminals to know what's going on."
You start and I'll help. My skills without the library would be ineffective I fear
"Why is Grumpy Face here? Did Professor teach you as well?"
Cassiel blinks in surprise. "'Grumpy Face'? ...huh. Could've sworn I was being cheerier."
"Anyway, no. Professor Lorrimor wasn't my teacher." Cassiel turns back to the road as he walks into the town square. "I saved his life while I was on a patrol with my unit--he was beset by undead. My superiors fought the undead spirits while I was charged with escorting the professor and the survivors of his expedition to safety. Professor Lorrimor thanked me a lot when we returned to Vigil."
"Not bad for someone who was rejected by the Knights 6 times before they accepted me, eh?"
You start and I'll help. My skills without the library would be ineffective I fearLorant whistles at what they learn.
"No wonder the locals think it's haunted. So...You think the Whispering Way wanted to make contact with those criminals or something? Perhaps they were former members? I dunno. What I do know is I think we'll need to know more about these five criminals to know what's going on."
"You think we'll find information on them here?"
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Before you leave the church, Father Grimburrow takes you aside for a moment. "You are, of course, welcome to continue your research here... on the morrow. I just wanted to inform you that the acolytes we dispatched made a thorough search of the area, but found nothing to indicate a hidden cache, as I expected."
"Did they actually look IN the crypts? That's what Petros' journal mentioned. If you just looked around outside of course you wouldn't find it.
Meenak listens, eyes wandering up above him before looking back at Cassiel. He jogged a little further ahead and stopped turning back to face Cassiel... before bowing.
"Meenak must say thank you. Grumpy Face- ...hrm..." Meenak paused, looking down and thinking a bit, before tapping his chin in consideration. Finally, he looked back up with a nod. "Professor came back to teach Meenak. Meenak liked Professor and Sir Shiny Scales saved him. Sir Shiny Scales is good knight. Almost as good as Meenak is mighty shaman!"
Pleased with his posturing, Meenak returned to walking, this time ahead of the paladin.
"Er--" Cassiel is a bit taken aback by Meenak bowing to him. "--Meenak, you don't need to bow to me. I'm not a lord..."
Admittedly, he has a small smile on his face from being called a 'good knight'. Almost as good. Just wait until I've got some undead to smite.
And 'Sir Shiny Scales'... alright. I can work with that. Sounds cooler than 'Grumpy Face'.
Lorant whistles at what they learn.
"No wonder the locals think it's haunted. So...You think the Whispering Way wanted to make contact with those criminals or something? Perhaps they were former members? I dunno. What I do know is I think we'll need to know more about these five criminals to know what's going on."
We're getting some glares from some of the clergy. We can always come back tomorrow to check... in the meantime we can ask the local townsfolk for what they know of the prison and the fire plus we can explore the town a bit.
"Good idea. We should probably find Cas and Meenak, too. Hopefully they haven't gotten into TOO much trouble!" He says with a nudge to Mathus.
He bows to the clergy glaring at him.
"Thank you for your time today, and allowing us the use of your archives. We've learned a lot. May the Goddess guide and keep you."
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It is a fair walk from the Temple of Pharasma to the town square, which lies across the river, but with little else to do, you make the trek. Along the route, you pass the road leading north to the Restlands and several nice houses. Over the bridge crossing the river, you pass the Unfurling Scroll before coming into the town square.
A simple wooden gazebo serves as the hub of the square, with roads going north, south, and northwest. Entering via the north road, you know from your walk here the previous evening that the Professor's house lies to the south, and beyond that, the old prison. The northeast road leads to the Laughing Demon tavern. Seven large buildings surround the square; they are, starting at the 1 position on the clockface (12 is oriented north):
1 - Ravengro General Store
2 - Outward Inn
5 - Ravengro Town Hall
6 - Silk Purse (moneylender)
8 - Ravengro Forge
10 - Jominda's Apothecary
11 - Ravengro Jail
At the entrance to the square, and placed at strategic points throughout the town (outside the tavern, the temple, etc.) are thick poles (about 8 inches around), plastered with dozens of messages tacked to them. Of the five poles in the town, most contain identical copies, though occasionally there is some variation. Most of the messages are of upcoming nuptials, offers of goods for sale, job notices for farmhands, or notices of missing pets. However, one of the posts is a carefully scribed work titled the Wealday Parchment. It is dated this past Wealday.
Lorant's eyes perk up at the sight of the Unfurling Scroll.
"This looks interesting. Scrolls are generally only useful to the learned, so perhaps the proprietor may know where to conduct more research!"
He raps on the door, brisk, but light.
Lorant's eyes perk up at the sight of the Unfurling Scroll.
"This looks interesting. Scrolls are generally only useful to the learned, so perhaps the proprietor may know where to conduct more research!"
He raps on the door, brisk, but light.
Good idea friend. I am also thinking, Father Grimburrows acolytes aside it may not be a bad idea to check the Restlands for ourselves
Meenak pauses as he seems to take more note of the poles than most anything else, even what's posted on them. "...the five wards." he muses almost inaudibly. Whatever that means.
"Meenak wants to see the... apa- ...apuh-... a-pot-to-carry..." he said, apparently struggling with the large word. "Is that like a ritual den? Keeps all the things necessary for warding? Herbal drafts and ant wax and stuff?"
He starts to traipse in the direction, before stopping at the unique wealday poster and looking up. It seemed... different from the others. He couldn't place why, but none of them seemed to looked like this one. As if someone took great pains to craft it. Pointing up at the poster, he looked to Cassiel. "What's a wealday? Is that... a day to roll things around? Is it like the chimeda beetle races? Those are fun... Meenak never wins, his beetles are too stupid and slow, but it's fun."
"Meenak wants to see the... apa- ...apuh-... a-pot-to-carry..." he said, apparently struggling with the large word. "Is that like a ritual den? Keeps all the things necessary for warding? Herbal drafts and ant wax and stuff?"
"An apothecary is where people go to buy herbal remedies and potions. So, you're not too far off." Cassiel shrugs. "Was there something you wanted to get there?"
"What's a wealday? Is that... a day to roll things around? Is it like the chimeda beetle races? Those are fun... Meenak never wins, his beetles are too stupid and slow, but it's fun."
"Wealday is the day of the week before Oathday. It's normally a day when people work."
He blinks in confusion. "...wait--your tribe has beetle races on Wealdays?" He asks as he takes a closer look at the Wealday Parchment.
"...oh... that's not fun at all. Meenak thought was a day for wheels. Wheel-day?" He asked, grimacing a bit. "Swampscales have races a lot of days. Meenak has seen any around here or at the University. Meenak though wheel-days were days you softskins had rolling races. But you just work... even kobolds take breaks."
Meenak stared at the apothecary for a little bit, before finally shaking his head. "This place... it has a lot of darkness. It grows every day. Meenak wants to make sure if he needs wards and materials, they are available. Potions will do for now... may have to build ant farm back at the snarl..."
"...oh... that's not fun at all. Meenak thought was a day for wheels. Wheel-day?"
"Hey, cheer up. It's better than Woeday. That's when everyone goes around feeling miserable." Cassiel grins.
"Swampscales have races a lot of days. Meenak has seen any around here or at the University. Meenak though wheel-days were days you softskins had rolling races. But you just work... even kobolds take breaks."
"We do have days off... usually on Sundays, but also if they're religious holidays."
Meenak looks up at Cassiel, before back at the poster, than over to the apothecary. "...that sounds sad. Meenak is hungry. We should collect Pale Scales and Shiny Eyes before going back to Professor's snarl to eat."
Cassiel looks down at Meenak, scratching his head. "I... uh, I was just making a joke. Or failing to, rather."
It takes him a second to understand who Meenak is talking about. "But, yeah. Let's get Lorant & Mathus once we're done here."
Lorant smiles as they approach Cassiel and Meenak.
"Well, we've had some success and some failure both."
Cassiel scratches his head. "Well, that's probably better than what I've managed to accomplish. How'd things go?"
"We learned Harrowstone burned back in 4661, in a fire that not only killed every prisoner inside, but also most of the guards and the Hawkrans, the prison's warden and his wife."
"Most of the stone structure here on the surface is intact. It's the underground eastern wing where most of the damage is."
"Turns out, that's exactly the area the prisoners had taken over that night in a riot. The Warden triggered a deadfall to trap the prisoners down there, but in doing so trapped himself down there with them. Among them were five prisoners that were particularly notorious and who had recently arrived. Reasonable to suspect they started the riot. The fire was started by the panicked guards after the deadfall."
"Petros suspected our enemy was looking for a particular person in Harrowstone. Perhaps it was one of these five prisoners. Maybe one of them was a member of the cult. We'll need to look into this further to know who these prisoners were and what landed them in Harrowstone. Might give us more insight into what we may find there, if it is genuinely haunted as the locals believe."
Lorant pauses and yawns.
"That's the good news, at any rate. The bad news is that Father Grimburrow's acolytes turned up nothing in the Restlands resembling a false crypt. Meaning either Petros was wrong, or we'll have to investigate ourselves...which probably won't go over well with the townsfolk if they catch us doing it."
Lets get a meal and head back to the house - we can discuss a trip to the Restlands once we get back there for when it gets darker.
Cassiel nods as his stomach growls.