Shol'a'saul thinks quietly to herself, as a slender hand reaches under her cloak to touch something hidden. She whispers almost to herself, "She may believe that to be true, but secrets are often hidden from those you love..." She listens to something for a few seconds and nods in agreement. "You could be correct Ith, time will tell."
"I'm shure you're right, Mish Kendra," Venedictos says, the inebriation setting back in now that Shelyn's guidance has left him. "Might I too suggessht that we reshume our journey...before they find some pitchforkssh and torchessh?"
Corey, who had remained quiet during the entire confrontation, is in firm denial that the professor had anything to do with necromancy. "This just simply cannot be true. When I was trying to decide what school of magica to focus me time he advised me against necromancy."
At the councilman's words, Corey is silently surprised, the only indication being that his eyebrows raise slightly. Lorrimar never mentioned any of those interests.. Looking around at the group of strangers again he sighs. How little I really did know about him.
Riven looks around at the others.
"There is no reason to wasting our time trying to think of all the ways other people are wrong. The Professor was a good man to me. That's all I need to know."
Listening as the other briefly mention their relationships with the Professor, Ad'ifaah helps pick up the coffin and resumes the march into the Restlands.
The Professor was always a good man to me during the brief time I knew him. Devoted to travel and knowledge. I spoke mostly about my home in Qadira and the fascination with elementals and genies which pervades the kingdom.
"I didn't really know him at all. I jusht pulled him out of a ditch. He sshaw something beautiful sshtill left in me when I, Ssheylyn's devoted, couldn't. Men filled with the darknessh of necromancy can't do that."
He nearly trips and turns his attention back to the path. "Courssh, whatever he sshaw's long gone now."
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With the unpleasentness finished, the procession makes its way to the gravesite where Father Grimburrow awaits with two attendants. The coffin is placed on the stand and then lowered into the grave. He gives a short sermon based on the tenets of Pharasma and then beckons to Kendra.
She says a few words admist fresh outbreaks of tears and then turns to you and says, "Perhaps some of you would like to say some words or share your experiences of my father?"
Ricven steps forward and turns to face the mourners.
"I grew up rough, helping my mother and fighting pretty much anyone who crossed us. That eventually led to guarding merchant supplies, which is where I meet the Professor. It was a pretty bright night because of the moon but still we didn't see the creatures until they were almost on top of us. They were some monstrous mix of human and animal. The first thing they did was kill some of the horses."
The fighter pauses for a moment, looking up and off into the distance as if he can still see that night.
"We circled up around that night's bonfire, with the cooks and wagon drivers stoking the blaze while the rest of us tried to fight them off. We held them back for a while, but they would fade into the darkness and then strike again from another direction."
"After a few minutes, we heard more horses riding up. It was the Professor and some sort of hunting party. It seems those creatures had been preying on merchants for weeks and the Professor was guiding the effort to stop them. They attacked with holy water and alchemical mixtures I had never seen before. They drove the monsters off, but not before a few of their party and few people in my caravan died."
"I thanked the Professor and the others for saving our lives that night. Without them, we would have all died. The Professor wanted to study the creatures and told me there might be some way I could repay him in the future. That was two years ago, and I've been waiting for his letter ever since."
Aeleanor walks behind the procession silently after the confrontation. The orbs of light she has conjured fade and wink out as they reach the burial ground, and she watches the burial with a distracted expression, as if deep in thought.
Shol'a'saul shudders as she contemplates the meetings she had with the Professor. Still she feels compelled to speak."I did not know the Professor well, but he showed me compassion at a point in my life when I needed a lifeline. He only asked I repay his debt in the future..."
"I have barely begun my own travels to discover the workings of the world, and my own place within them. I could sense in the Professor the breadth of his travels and experiences, and stand in awe of them. Even in the brevity of our meeting, his wisdom and inherent goodness were evident. I fear that like many wise men, the value of his efforts and thoughts become evident only after the passing of many years." With that, Aerys casts a dark look down the path where the angry townsfolk departed.
He would hire me as a bodyguard on the occasions when to came to the town I was staying in for research. He always payed me well and was nothing but kind to me."
Abe bows his head and says a silent prayer to Shelyn.
Bowing my head. I knew him only briefly. I was lucky enough to be camping by the Inner Sea when his ship was wrecked in a great storm. I pulled him out and then travelled from Andoran back to Ustalav with him and will always treasure the time we spent traveling together.
Turning to Kendra: You have my condolences, your father was a great man.
I offer a prayer to Desna and then step back.
When it is Corey's turn to speak, he lifts his bowed head only slightly to speak. "I met Lorrimar when I stopped a wild animal from attacking him before he saw it. It really wasn't the most impressive feat, but.. He was kind enough to return the 'favor' and took me off from the streets and helped put me through the Academae. Even though it's been several years since I saw him last, I really do owe him everything I have now." Before stepping down, Corey faces the professor's daughter. "Your father will truly be missed, my lady."
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The group of people who have accompanied Kendra look at your group with a little more warmth after the heartfelt eulogies. The twoo attendants begin filling in the grave as the group begins to disperse. Kendra says her goodbyes to each of them as they leave and then turns to your group.
"Please, if you would, I would like for you to come to my house now. I can offer some refreshments while we wait for Councilman Hearthmount to come over with the will."
Aerys gives a short bow. "You are too kind, Lady Lorrimar."
Shol'a'saul pauses and looks off into the distance, her gaze unfocused. As Kendra speaks, her eyes return to focus on the young lady. "Thank you, you are too kind."
Venedictos smiles crookedly. "I could do with a bit of refreshmentssh," he says, and follows the others.
Adifaah listens to the others, smiles, and then follows them as they head to Kendra's home.
Abe nods in silence and follows after the rest.
Ricven nods his thanks to Kendra as the others start to file away. He'll hang back and walk over to the grave.
"This will only take a moment," he tells the two attendants as he pulls out a dagger, holding it by the blade so they can see he has no ill intent.
"May Gorum guide and protect in the places you now walk, Professor," the fighter says as he toss the iron knife gently into the loose earth.
That done, Ricven turns and follows the others back to the house.
Aeleanor stands for a while, watching as the coffin is slowly covered in earth. After a while, she tears her gaze away and follows Kendra and the others to the home silently.
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You follow Kendra back to her house (the Restlands is are P on the map, you go over the covered bridge, through the town square, area A, and to her house, area N). Their house is a modest affair. Inside you find every room has stuffed bookshelves. She takes you to the dining room and brings drinks.
Vashian arrives precisely on time, about one hour after you arrive. No Sense Motive check is necessary to note that he doesn’t completely approve of strangers being involved in local matters, but he keeps his comments to himself, focusing his involvement entirely on the reading of Petros’s will. Kendra isn’t sure what’s contained in the will, since part of its stipulation was that all of the PCs must be present for its reading. Councilman Vashian produces a scroll case, shows that the professor’s personal seal is unbroken, then breaks the wax and opens the case. As he does, a small iron key falls out of the tube, clattering noisily onto the table. Undaunted by the key, the councilman begins to read, eager to be done with the business and to get back home.
“I, Petros Lorrimor, being of sound mind, do hereby commit to this parchment my last will and testament. Let it be known that, with the exception of the specific details below, I leave my home and personal belongings entire to my daughter Kendra. Use them or sell them as you see fit, my child.
Yet beyond the bequeathing of my personal effects, this document must serve other needs. I have arranged for the reading of this document to be delayed until all principals can be in attendance, for I have more than mere inheritance to apportion. I have two final favors to ask.
To my old friends, I hate to impose upon you all, but there are few others who are capable of appreciating the true significance of what it is I have to ask. As some of you know, I have devoted many of my studies to all manner of evil, that I might know the enemy and inform those better positioned to stand against it. For knowledge of one’s enemy is the surest path to victory over its plans.
And so, over the course of my lifetime, I have seen fit to acquire a significant collection of valuable but dangerous tomes, any one of which in the wrong circumstances could have led to an awkward legal situation. While the majority of these tomes remain safe under lock and key at the Lepidstadt University, I fear that a few I have borrowed remain in a trunk in my Ravengro home. While invaluable for my work in life, in death, I would prefer not to burden my daughter with the darker side of my profession, or worse still, the danger of possessing these tomes herself. As such, I am entrusting my chest of tomes to you, posthumously. I ask that you please deliver the collection to my colleagues at the University of Lepidstadt, who will put them to good use for the betterment of the cause.
Yet before you leave for Lepidstadt, there is the matter of another favor—please delay your journey one month and spend that period of time here in Ravengro to ensure that my daughter is safe and sound. She has no one to count on now that I am gone, and if you would aid her in setting things in order for whatever she desires over the course of this month, you would have my eternal gratitude. From my savings, I have also willed to each of you a sum of one hundred platinum coins. For safekeeping, I have left these funds with Embreth Daramid, one of my most trusted friends in Lepidstadt—she has been instructed to issue this payment upon the safe delivery of the borrowed tomes no sooner than one month after the date of the reading of this will.
I, Petros Lorrimor, hereby sign this will in Ravengro on this
first day of Calistril, in the year 4711 AR.”
Aerys very nearly does a spit-take while drinking at the mention of 'one hundered platinum coins' - more money than he ever dreamt of earning. He covers by acting as if it was merely a slight cough.
"Of course, Lady Lorrimar. However I may be of service, you need only ask."
Shol'a'saul is silent ffor a long time, the only sound she makes is the sipping of her wine (an excellent vintage she thought). Once the councilor has left, she speaks quietly, "An odd request from him to deliver these tomes to his colleague, a matter of some urgency it sounds like. And yet he wishes us to reman here for a month. Very contradictory terms I would say."
Listening to the discussion and the reading of the will: If I had to guess, there are bad people who know that the Professor has these tomes in his home and he expects these people to come and attempt to retrieve them. He is asking us to stay here to protect his daughter from this impending attack before returning the books as the interlopers will not know that the tomes and chest have been removed.
Strange requests, a strange group, and stranger we to accept, but I do. Kendra, Aeleanor says, approaching her and pressing her hand between hers. I will do all that is in my ability to protect you, as I did for your father. However, I would like to have a look at this chest and these tomes...I would like to know what we are dealing with and...who, or what might come looking for them...understand?
Turning to the group, she speaks again.
I assume many of you are here today because you are of...high mettle, and many of you will stay. However, if you do not wish to, please leave now. This is no light assignment and I fear it will be dangerous. We should set up security measures immediately: watches, guards for Kendra, and so on. What skills do we have among us? She asks, looking around the room. She approaches the table and picks up the key, examining it.
I, for one, am skilled with a blade, and my eyes are strong in the dark...she says, visibly growing self-conscious. I ah...could start on watch this night. She says shyly.
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Kendra Thanks Councilman Hearthmount for his duties and escorts him to the door. Returning, she thanks you for coming and says she will need a couple of weeks to determine if she will sell the house and move. In the meantime, as stipulated by the will, she asks you to remain as well. She offers rooms in her spacious house for you, promising you free room and board for the month the will requests you to remain in town, and then excuses herself to go fetch the chest mentioned in the will.
After a few moments she returns with a relatively small object of oak and iron. Kendra, nervous about the contents, offers the key to you to give you the honor of opening the chest. The key fits the lock perfectly, and within are several old tomes and one relatively new one. The newest tome sits on the top and bears the phrase “Read me now!” scratched into the leather cover. This book appears to be Petros Lorrimor’s journal. The other tomes comprise the books of dangerous lore
mentioned in his will—three of these have notes tucked into them indicating that they should be delivered to one Montagnie Crowl, a professor of antiquities at Lepidstadt University. The fourth, Manual of the Order of the Palatine Eye, has a note indicating it should be delivered to Embreth Daramid, a judge at the Lepidstadt Courthouse (although the note asks for this delivery in particular to be handled discreetly, and includes the address of Embreth’s home so that you can deliver it there).
Ricven glances at the books, noting the newest volume and its message.
"Still the teacher, Professor? I guess we start with that one."
Shol'a'saul's skin crawls as she looks at the tomes inside the chest. "I do not advise even opening those other tomes, unless absolutely necessary."
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Ricven picks up the journal and pages through it. The majority of the entries are relatively bland, accounting for day-to-day activities in a small town. The professor has circled several entries in the book with red ink, though, and it is these entries he evidently wanted you to pay particular attention to. The f inal entry, dated 17 days ago, was written on the same day the Professor’s body was found.
Ten Years Ago:
The Whispering Way is more than just a cabal of necromancers. I see that now. Undeath is their fountain of youth. Uncovering their motivation does not place me at ease as I thought it might. Their desire to be eternal simply makes them more dangerous.
Two Months Ago:
It is as I had feared. The Way is interested in something here in Ravengro. But what could it be?
One Month Ago:
Whatever the Way seeks, I am now convinced their goal is connected to Harrowstone. In retrospect, I suppose it all makes sense—the stories they tell about the ruins in town are certainly chilling enough. It may be time to investigate the ruins, but with everyone in town already being so worked up about them, I’d rather not let the others know about my curiosity—there’s plenty of folks hereabouts who already think I’m a demonologist or a witch or something. Ignorant fools.
Twenty Days Ago:
It is confirmed. The Way seems quite interested in something—no, strike that—someone who was held in Harrowstone. But who, specifically, is the Way after? I need a list of everyone who died the night of the fire. Everyone. The Temple of Pharasma must have such a list.
Eighteen Days Ago:
I see now just how ill prepared I was when I last set out for the Harrowstone. I am lucky to have returned at all. The ghosts, if indeed they were ghosts (for I did not find it prudent to investigate further) prevented me from transcribing the strange symbols I found etched along the foundation—hopefully on my next visit I will be more prepared. Thankfully, the necessary tools to defend against spirits are already here in Ravengro. I know that the church of Pharasma used to store them in a false crypt in the Restlands at the intersection between Eversleep and the Black Path. I am not certain if the current clergy even know of what their predecessors have hidden down below. If my luck holds, I should be able to slip in and out with a few borrowed items.
Seventeen Days Ago:
Tomorrow evening I return to the prison. It is imperative the Way does not finish. My caution has already cost me too much time. I am not sure what will happen if I am too late, but if my theory is right, the entire town could be at risk. I don’t have time to update my will, so I’ll leave this in the chest where it’ll be sure to be found, should the worst come to pass.
Aerys' bow furrows. "The Whispering Way..."
Abe is excited at the mention to the 100 pp inheritance.
I can finally purchase a mount!
After hearing what is written in the journal he says, relieved
"It seems that he was not a necromancer after all, but rather was investigating them. I am glad to hear that."
Abe picks up one the the other volumes and idly turns it over, reading the title.
Shol'a'saul shifts her gaze skyward, and her gaze loses focus. Her mind slips into itself as she searches her memory for any mention of this group tied to her extra-planar knowledge.
And he had all of this prepared...As if he knew he would die...? Mistress Kendra, where was your father found, and...how did he...die? Aeleanor asks cautiously, reviewing the journal.
It seems as though he died to protect the people of Ravengro...
Aeleanor paces back and forth in the study, one arm across her stomach supporting her other, and her hand on her chin. Who was it who found Professor Lorrimar? There may be clues to what he was doing. I think the good Professor has charged us with more than the protection of Mistress Kendra... she says, returning to the chest.
And if that's the case..."knowledge of one’s enemy is the surest path to victory over its plans..." she mutters, picking up the first of the tomes.
Perception:
She sets it on the table in front of her and cracks the cover to the title page cautiously, keeping her face away from the book. If nothing happens, she will take a closer look.
"Miss Kendra, I will begin to honor your father's will and stay here for one month, but I must ask if you mind pets..?" As he says this, Paeter pokes his head out of Corey's backpack that is now resting on the floor besides his chair.
Corey rubs his thumb under his chin at the reading of the journal. At the mention of the "Whispering Way", the elf racks his brain for any mentions of it of the readings he did over the years.
Knowledge, Arcana:
The fighter closes the book and looks around at the others.
"Well, that settles it. We're on guard duty for the next month everyone. And Mistress Kendra, you may well want to consider leaving this town if this group bore the Professor ill will."
The fighter stands up and moves to stand by the door nearest Kendra, his back to the wall and hands loose in front of him. His feet are spread at about shoulder-width and it seems like he could stand that way for hours.
"I too will sshtay," Venedictos says, looking a bit more sober if not sounding it. "In honour of whatever your father sshaw in me, and for the firssht hosshpitality I've found in Ravengro."
"Would you happen to have any brandy for thissh tea? Jussht a nip?"
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1)The Whispering Way is a sinister organization of necromancers that has been active in the Inner Sea region for thousands of years.
2)Agents of the Whispering Way often seek alliances with undead creatures, or are themselves undead. The Whispering Way’s most notorious member was Tar-Baphon, the Whispering Tyrant, although the society itself has existed much longer than even that mighty necromancer.
3)The Whispering Way itself is a series of philosophies that can only be transferred via whispers— the philosophies are never written or spoken of loudly, making the exact goals and nature of the secretive
philosophy difficult for outsiders to learn much about.
1)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.
2)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.
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Aeleanor carefully lifts the other tomes from the chest and examines them. They are:
• Manual of the Order of the Palatine Eye: The rich purple cover contains a brass scarab set with a single eye in its center. The book’s covers are rimmed in polished steel and clasped with a small but intricate lock, the keyhole of which appears to be for a key with a strange, triangular shaft. The key is nowhere to be found (Knowledge history, local or arcana for info on the Order of the Palantine Eye).
• On Verified Madness: This jet-black book is a treatise on aberrations and other entities found on Golarion that possess remote ties to the Dark Tapestry, the name given to the dark places between the stars in the night sky.
• Serving Your Hunger: This text is a copy of one of several unholy books sacred to the goddess Urgathoa. Lorrimor’s notations liberally sprinkle the margins.
• The Umbral Leaves: This lexicon is a translation into Common of the unholy book of Zon-Kuthon.
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"If you wish to research these things, you may use any of the resources of my father's collection. You may also want to check with the town hall or the temple of Pharasma as they have records there. You may also wish to visit The Unfurling Scroll, a magic shop here in town run by Alendru Ghoroven." Kendra informs you as she sees the interest of your group.
Shol'a'saul shakes her head slightly at the drow lady's disregard of her warning, but as she looks over the tomes she tries to recall whether she has ever heard of that strange Order.
"I will stay as well. I owe the Professor that much at least."
Aeleanor examines the Manual of the Order of the Palatine Eye closely, looking in the keyhole and turning it around.
What a beautiful book! I wonder what it is about?
She checks the chest for a key. If she finds none, she draws a small leather package from her belt and unrolls it on the table. It is filled with small metal prongs, which she goes to work on the keyhole with delicately.
Disable Device: