Vala nods, acknowledging the judge's offer to shift into a less formal exchange. She smiles and turns to busy herself with her tea for a moment as the conversation wends onward.
Judge Darramid shakes her head.
I'm sorry, Miss Stokes, the knowledge in that book is not for you. Please don't take it personally, it's just that some secrets are best kept silent. she says gently.
Do you have the book with you?
Thank you. she says taking the book quickly and ensuring it's clasp is still closed. She excuses herself for a few moments and leaves the room, returning shortly afterwards without the tome.
Meanwhile Kendra and Jon are deep in conversation, discussing the city, the possibilities, the post he has secured for her and so on.
Petros set aside sums as part of his will for you all to be paid on the return of items to myself and Dr Crowl at the university. I cannot release those funds until I have a writ from Crowl confirming delivery, I'm sure you understand.
Why don't you meet me back here tonight for dinner once you have it?
She casts a glance at Jon who, despite his conversation, gives an almost imperceptible nod of reassurance
There is another matter I would like to discuss with you if you are not planning on leaving the city immediately.
And I for one would love a chance to discuss your time with Petros in more depth, though the stories I could tell you would probably pale beside Embreth's. Jon adds with a laugh. But for now sadly I must depart as I have other business to attend to. Thank you for the tea Embreth, it was lovely to see you again. And Kendra my sincere apologies for rushing off again after we have just met up, you have lodgings I take it? Good, well I hope to see you all again tonight of that dinner invitation extends to me as well Embreth! It was wonderful to meet you all, I hope you enjoy your time in the city.
Vermundr's rumbling belly is the only response he gives.
Vala nods warmly at Darramid's invitation, agreeing with Hazel. "Of course, Embreth, we'd be happy to. Honestly, it's strange being back in Leipstadt after all the terribleness in Ravengro. Not only that, but with all this hub-bub about trying a nursery rhyme, it hardly even feels like home! A good meal would be quite nice, I should think."
It's settled then. My late husband was the cook - I was always too busy when I was a barrister. But now I actually find it quite therapeutic. Jon, of course you are welcome.
Kendra smiles. It really was nice to catch up with you Jon, fleeting though it was. I'll see you tonight.
Of course. Professor Derlith says in reply, taking a fine cashmere overcoat from a hook and sliding it over his shoulders. Until tonight. If you go and see Crowl give that old rascal my regards and tell him I hope the student's education hasn't suffered in my absence! he jokes and excuses himself with a nod to you all.
Vermundr pours himself a glass of the tea the others seem to be enjoying. The big man sniffs it loudly and then drinks it in sips.
"Ms. Lorrimor, As much as I hate to cut short a very pleasant meeting, " he begins, nodding to the judge and her guest, "we should probably make our other deliveries as expeditiously as possible. Forgive me, Your Honor, Mr. Derlith. I do hope that we might meet again soon. Might we trouble you with a couple of questions about the University before we go?"
Vala arches an inquisitive eyebrow and shoots Kazamir a curious look. "You do realize that up until Petros' funeral I taught there, Kazamir." She grins mischievously before waving him and the others toward the door. "Come on then. We've taken enough of Embreth's time now and we'll yet take plenty more over dinner."
The group makes their way from Judge Darramid's house toward the university. Though the walk should only take ten minutes, the narrow streets choked with people making their way to the town square, makes the journey take closer to half an hour.
Every now and then, through a gap in the buildings, you catch a glimpse of the Punishing Man. The thirty foot tall wooden wicker-man is a fearsome sight and you can well imagine the townsfolk eagerly piling fuel at the base of the construction in readiness for the long-awaited execution.
As you set foot on campus you see it is a large collection of buildings spread out from the main gate. However, Dr Montagnie Crowl is easy to track down, especially since Vala knows the man quite well and can navigate her way through the university grounds with ease.
You make your way to the Department of Antiquities and are greeted by the sight of several builders making repairs and maids cleaning up. The building appears to have suffered extensive damage recently and dust, debris and broken relics litter the entire place.
You are pointed in the direction of a small man wearing a tweed suit excitedly flapping his arms around at a team of maids.
Kazamir allows himself to drift to the back of the group as the damage becomes evident, slowing down and taking a long look around...old saws about old habits and curious cats at the edge of his thoughts.
"What happened here?" Constantin says with some shock. He looks over to Kaz with a this is right up our alley look, then turns to the small man in the tweed suit. "Sir?" he inquires. "We were sent here by the late Professor Lorrimor. What's happened? Can we help you?"
Oh hullo there. he says to the group. I was going to say that I was a little busy as you can see, what with the mess that blasted Beast caused, but any friend of Petros is a friend of mine. How is the old devil anyway? Haven't heard from him in months. He's late you say? For what? I didn't know he was visiting or that we even had an appointment! the little man laughs. Ms Cross. How unexpected. How are you my dear?
"He's, uh, late because we just came here from his funeral," says Constantin a bit awkwardly. "I'm sorry, I guess you hadn't heard. The Professor finally passed on and he was buried in Ravengro. But he sent us here to take care of some business for him, and now we see that your wonderful facility is in some disarray, and of course any friend of Petros is a friend of ours, so we'd love to help if we can."
Vermundr stares hard at the enormous wickerman as the party passes by it. It seemed like a grisly fate but the North was known for its own seemingly cruel methods of execution.
"If the Beast is guilty, why is its punishment so long coming?" the big man ponders aloud.
The man's smile fades quickly and he wrings his small hands in front of him.
Oh. Oh dear. for a moment he doesn't seem to know what else to say.
His daughter wrote to me last month to say she would be in the city, possibly to take up a post here at the university. She said her circumstances had changed but nothing about her father. How sad, I do hope she is alright.
Kendra steps forward, having remained quiet up to now.
Hello Dr. I'm Kendra, I'm sorry I didn't tell you but father always spoke highly of you and I didn't want to just mention it in a letter. she shakes his hand.
My goodness, Kendra! I would never have recognised you. I'm very sorry for your loss, Petros was a good friend and colleague. I... What a shock...
Please, come this way. Mind your step, there's still quite a lot of glass..
Clearly shaken by the news Crowl offers no response about the Beast's presence at the university
Montagnie leads you down several corridors to his office, a small walnut paneled room lined with book shelves, trinkets, statues, sketches and scrolls. Everything is in its place and in comparison to the chaos outside the office is almost obsessively neat.
Now, what can I do for you?
Vala smiles at her colleague's greeting and replies with a pleasant nod, "Monty."
Once the group finds their way to his office, Vala pauses for a moment, casting a reluctant glance to the others. "It seems we've come to you in the midst of some trouble. But it's for Petros that we're even here. Seems he had some books of yours in his possession and he meant to see them returned to you."
She produces the remaining tomes then, her face somber as she relinquishes the last of Petros' books.
Thank you for returning the books, I'd clean forgot Petros had them. But they are best under lock and key, not everyone should have access to books on these dark religions. he takes the tomes and locks them in a desk drawer.
Goodness.... I can't believe he's gone. he says glumly.
Vala nods her head, her voice quiet and equally glum, "I know."
Zed takes some long looks at the Punishing Man. An overly barbaric spectacle for an execution. It speaks ill of the town. The old inquisitor shakes his head and continues on.
At the Department of Antiquities, Zed offers a quiet handshake to the man, raising a brow in surprise. "The beast did this? It must have been fearsome indeed to rip buildings apart." As the man doesn't pick up on the saying, Zed takes a long breath. A quaint man. This death may rest heavily on him.
Even inside Zed keeps his hood up, giving a nod of reassurement to Crowl. "His spirit is at rest now with Pharasma. He accomplished much in his time here."
Vala wonders inwardly just how at rest Petros' spirit was, given some of her experiences during the crisis at Harrowstone, but she keeps that to herself and doesn't contradict Zed's words. She leans back in her chair, giving Monty a chance to gather his thoughts and respond to Hazel's offer.
Oh no, things are getting cleaned up here well enough I suppose.
That Beast broke in here last week and caused all kinds of damage. At least the guards apprehended it in the act and it can finally pay for everything it's done over the years. Although I must admit, I didn't expect it would get caught committing something as mundane as simple thievery. The justices have only this morning allowed us to begin cleaning up. My people are cataloguing everything as we speak.
He writes a small writ of receipt as requested.
Vermundr frowns, puzzled by the explanation.
"That's unusual. Where I come from, the types of monsters that raze and murder don't often resort to thievery."
Constantin also looks concerned. "Yes, usually an intruder either busts the place up, or steals something - rare to do both unless they had to turn everything over while looking for what they wanted to steal."
Crowl continues wringing his hands.
Well despite all the destruction so far we can only determine that one thing is missing; a small statue called the Seasage Effigy. It’s quite singular but hardly valuable so I really have no idea why the Beast would be interested in it.
Vala holds up her hands in a gesture for the conversation to slow down. "Wait wait wait. You mean to tell me the Beast of Leipstadt is real? Honestly, Monty, you're not pulling our chain? It's not just some age-old boogeyman to frighten disobedient little children?" From the sound of her voice, it seems Vala is well and truly surprised at this.
Oh It's very real. Monty says with a chill. I saw it myself when they dragged it away in chains. My god if it wasn't twelve feet tall and more fierce than a lion then my name isn't Crowl.[/b] he shivers. Made my blood run cold just to see it, all ragged bits and pieces of flesh and dead eyes, like the glass eyes in the exhibits here. Goodness after all the things it's done it's just a shame they didn't have it in the Punishing Man that very day.
Sounds like possibly some great big undead. But if that's the case, it must have a master... "Where are they keeping the beast? Is the public allowed to see it?"
At the courthouse I would think. I shouldn't think anyone would be permitted, for their own safety as much as anything else. Crowl replies.
"Thank you." Hmm. I wonder if our law-inclined acquaintances from earlier could get me an audience with the creature...
"What is the provenance of the effigy that was taken?" Kazamir asks...old habits reasserting themselves before he could even think to stop himself...
Constantin's eyes flicker across the area, wondering if there's anything else that was damaged or taken incidentally.
Ah yes, the Seasage Effigy. It's a small, green statuette of a writhing creature, all tentacles and frightening demeanour. Personally, I believe it depicts something rarely spoken of in Golarion, a creature from beyond the Dark Tapestry, the realm of darkness beyond the stars. he says excitedly. But I'm very much in the minority.
Regardless. Despite its rarity, it has little intrinsic value.
Kazamir's mind fills with questions, but he is able - barely - to contain his curiosity to return to the tasks at hand. He mutters a quick thanks to the Professor, and steps back, eyes still roaming the damaged hall.
Later that evening the group returns to Judge Darramids' townhouse. The sun is setting now and the glow it casts over the Punishing Man in the town's square is eerily evocative of the flames that will soon lick across it's surface.
After a polite knock on the door, Embreth greets them and ushers them inside, asking you to get settled in the drawing room where wine and brandy is already laid out.
There is also a small oak coffer set on a side table.
Nice to see you again, and thank you for taking up my invitation. Please make yourselves comfortable and help yourself to a drink. You have the writ from Dr Crowl. I'd just rather get that business taken care of so we can enjoy our meal.
Petros wanted you to have this upon completion of the conditions of his will. You have honoured him by looking after his daughter and carrying out his final wishes. Thank you.
You note that Professor Derlith is not yet present although there are noises coming from the kitchen so it appears the Judge has drafted in hired help.