Ricven watches closely as they attempt to revive Gibs. He takes a look to see if the man has a pouch that he has seen some spell casters use or any other details that seem out of place.
"The man's voice sounded strange at the time, not like what I remember from the cemetery. And he didn't act like any spellcaster I've seen before."
Ricven keeps a close watch on the man, wondering if he was somehow possessed by spirits to do this deed and if it was always him or someone different for each letter.
"Can anyone tell what type of blood that is? Animal or human?"
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Gibs comes to after Shol's healing.
"Where am I!?"He exclaims, then he immediately winces in pain.
"Shut it Gibs." The sheriff orders. He then holds up the wineskin. "This definitely looks like yours. What were you doing?"
"What? So I drink. I wasn't drunk. And who beat me up? I know what a beating feels like and I was beat! I wasn't passed out from drinking!"
Abe looks closely at Gibs.
"it sounds like he was possessed, or under some kind of enchantment."
I saw more than enough possession as a girl when my father summoned monsters. While he sounded like he was possessed, I would bet he voluntarily accepted it. After all, he was the one who was leading the group that tried to block us from the Restlands. What better place to hide evil necromantic support, than in the middle of an easily swayable prejudicial group diametrically opposed to your goals. Then direct the group against those who would fight you by claiming they supported that which the group opposed.
"Or, he's just a close-minded old villager, who roused a mob on the whisper of a rumour, and therefore made a convenient patsy for whoever charmed him. Being drunk would have also lowered his ability to resist such magic."
"We must also not discount spirit possession. Does Gibs have some sort of military background. That doesn't look like an easy weapon to wield, but Gibs held it like a pro. Enchantment magic can't do that."
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"Yeah, Gibs is retired miltia." The sheriff responds. "But he hasn't been violent before."
"Hey! I'm right here!" Gibs exclaims. "What are you talking about? What's that about possesion?"
The sheriff turns to Gibs. "So, you were drinking this?" He says as he pours some blood out of the wineskin.
Gibs visibly pales. "wh--what? I don't know nothing about no blood! I didn't put it there! These strangers musta put it in there. Friends of that no good necromancer Lorrimar!"
The fighter raises an eyebrow at the accusation.
"So, we ambushed you while you weren't drunk, poured out your wine, poured in some blood without spilling any and then tied you up and waited for a guardsman to wander by? Do you normally wander to the prison monument when you're "not drunk"?
He turns to the sheriff and his men.
"You can check me, I don't have any containers of blood on me. And you must think necromancers are horrible with magic, considering I hit you with this earthbreaker not any spells. And I hit you more than once, while you were looking at us. You drew a weapon before I did. Do you remember any of that at all?"
The fighter looks at Gibs, noting the two distinct impact marks from his earthbreaker.
Which brings up back the the initial question. WHAT WERE YOU DOING AT THE MONUMENT WITH A WINESKIN FULL OF BLOOD???
Intimidate: <-- I'm one scary crazy b$%^#.
Ricven frowns at Gibs as the sheriff makes it clear it is time for everyone to leave. He nods at the sheriff as he turns to go.
Once he and the others return to Kendra's home, he'll ask the others about trying to use the spirit board again.
"I think it's obvious by now that something supernatural is going on and it's tied to the prison. We should try to contact the spirits again to find out more about the 'her' they referred to. I'm guessing it's the warden's wife, but I'm not the one who really understands the mystical realms."
Shol'a'saul turns to look at the half-elven fighter, this time her gaze direct. "I am not sure it would be wise to consult the spirits, as they have shown their hostility towards us."
"We could restrain the person using the board. But if everyone feels the risks are too great, I understand. The rest of you know more about spirits than I do."
Before we leave: Sense Motive on the sheriff:
Once we are alone, or quietly to the others when the sheriff is not paying attention.
I am more concerned about leaving Gibs with the sheriff. I do not want ill will, but we have no idea whether the sheriff is honest, or tied in with whoever is causing all these problems. After all, the monument has been despoiled twice, yet the sheriff still did not have any guards keeping vigil on the monument. In addition, he was very interested in getting us out of there.
Shol'a'saul looks up at Ad'ifaah, "It seems odd that the Sherrif would be in league with the Way, but it is not out of the realm of possibility." She strokes under her cloak for a second, lost in thought. "Perhaps the spirits would be able to ascertain if the Sherrif is working against us."
"Seems to me that we have ourselves a risk-reward scenario. Contacting the spirits is likely to be risky, given the reaction the first time. If they are hostile, or hostile spirits are interfering with our attempts to contact friendly spirits, like the professor, will we really get useful or truthful information?"
"If one former resident of Harrowstone can control the actions of a townsperson, I would imagine there will be more to follow. Perhaps we need to begin our investigations of the prison itself?
Well - although I really do not trust him, we have no choice, the sheriff is the law in this town. I think we should all return to the house and get some rest before we head to the prison.
Upon returning to the house and going to sleep.
Ad'ifaah has strange dreams of her studies as a child in her father's library. During the dream, a disembodied voice tells her: You have spent much time training with your weapons and will always be skilled using them. However, this is not your destiny, as with your father, you are destined to gain great knowledge of the lands and magic. While you may feel that you have two left feet, your knowledge will enable you to sense when you are threatened and respond before the blow has landed. In addition, you will learn to use magic to protect yourself and strengthen your friends. Use these powers wisely, and you may someday obtain the power of your father.
With that, the voice fades and Ad'ifaah returns back to a deep sleep.
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In the morning, you set out for the prison. Harrowstone is located on a barren hill south of the city of Ravengro, the stark, sagging roof of its central structure visible through a large gap in the surrounding wall. A partially overgrown track leads from the southern edge of town, winding around the base of the hill and then back up along its southern slope to the prison itself.
Harrowstone’s grounds are contained within a crumbling stone wall, the eastern portion of which has fallen away into a huge sinkhole that formed when the extensive eastern wing of the prison dungeon collapsed after the dreadful fire of 4661. A sagging wood and metal gate set between a pair of stone guard towers once barred entrance into Harrowstone, but the gates now hang negligently open, creaking softly in what wind touches the ruined bars.
Ricven will take point with his great sword drawn once they reach the prison gates. He'll keep an eye out the whole time for anyone who might be nearby.
"I suggest we check the walls and outside structures first, to make sure we won't be flanked if we need to retreat. Also, I wouldn't mind checking out the place the professor died just in case there are any clues the sheriff missed."
Shol'a'saul gazes at the prison, feeling a chill run through her body (and her soul). Such death and misery is here...
When Ricven offers his suggestion, she nods. "I agree...our first place of investigation should be where the Professor met his end."
Venedictos takes one look at this dreary place, swallows, and says with false bravado, "Okay, then. Well, this was fun. We came, we saw. You know, I hear the Worldwound is lovely this time of year." He turns about and makes as if to leave.
Strength and personality are my strong points, not stealth and sneaking. My vote is to go in the front door and see what is there. But, I will go with whatever the majority chooses.
"This is an evil-looking place, let's not stay here too long."
Venedictos takes one look at this dreary place, swallows, and says with false bravado, "Okay, then. Well, this was fun. We came, we saw. You know, I hear the Worldwound is lovely this time of year." He turns about and makes as if to leave.
Aerys laughs. "I fear the Worldwound has gone all tourist-y in recent years. This should prove far more fun."
He nods to Ricven. "I would certainly like to check out that structure to the left of the main path before we proceed. I wouldn't like to leave that uninvestigated behind us as we enter the prison itself..."
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On each side of the gate is an old stone tower, its wooden roof collapsed and its crumbling walls thick with ivy, extends a further ten feet above the twenty foot-high wall here. The tower on the left has a dozen or so rats. The filthy creatures are watching from nooks and crannies in the stones; their fur is matted and filthy, their eyes dark and hungry. The tower on the right appears to be empty.
Ahead of you you see a small brick manor house that is overgrown with thick sheets of gray-green ivy. The roof sags ominously, and the front door hangs askew. This is probably the Warden's residence.
Cast Detect Magic - is there any magic radiating from the towers which might have caused Ricven's discomfort?
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A two-story stone building looms in the center of the prison grounds. Ivy and moss cling tenaciously to the walls, while above the wooden shingles of the roof are often missing entirely, exposing the wooden rafters of the upper structure to the sky. Here and there, leering stone gargoyles perch on the eaves, once functioning as drainspouts and decorations but now seeming almost to serve a more ominous role of sentinels. Many of these stone decorations have crumbled away and lie in ruined piles on the soggy ground below. Windows in the building’s facade are narrow and blocked by grills of rusty iron bars. Stone columns support a slumping wooden balcony over the building’s wooden front doors, both of which hang askew and reveal dark glimpses of chambers within.
Hmmm, Yes I'd say we should investigate where Lorrimar dies...but be careful, he died of a stone falling on him, no? Keep well away from the walls if you can. Aeleanor moves over to investigate the rubble.
Perception:
As Ricven enters the gates, he is overwhelmed with a sudden wave of claustraphobia, he then feels his skin burning as if on fire. Both sensations last only a second, but the memory is solid. Ricven appears momentarily shaken.
Ricven stops dead in his tracks until the sensations leave, then he quickly describes it to the others.
"It's as if the pain of this place reached out and briefly touched me. I'm surprised the professor didn't start investigating this place earlier."
Perhaps the evil has just returned which was why the well traveled professor had just started investigating.
Any evil auras about? Abe detects evil.
Yup
Perception:
Perception:
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Your investigation reveals some oddities. You easily find the spot where the statue was on the wall and then fell on the professor. At first look it appears he was using it as an anchor for a rope to climb the wall (why he was climbing here instead of going through the gates is the first oddity). However, close inspection of the base of the statue where it broke from the wall reveals some suspicious marks that look relatively fresh, sort of like chisel marks. You also find some scuffing on the interior side of the wall.
"This was no accident. Perhaps you are right about the sheriff, after all. Or maybe one of his men. No matter what, tis was murder."
Shol'a'saul quickly points out the oddities to the others. "It would appear to be an act of deliberate sabotage...most likely by those following the Way. We must be cautious here."