Megan's Carrion Crown

Game Master Megan Robertson

I shall post 'next morning' tomorrow or Monday: busy weekend, my daughter receives her baptism into the Mormon church today!

Next morning...

After the storm last night, the morning dawns crisp and clear. People seem to be making the most of the good weather and most of the town seems to be up and about bright and early.

What would you all like to do today?

Dillan comes downstairs almost refreshed from the nights storm and clearly more comfortable here; as he keeps his hood down. He gladly sits at the table, assuming Kendra is there with breakfast, "And what shall we do this day?"

Barret bounds down the stairs ready to start a new day."Morning. So what are we doing today?" He asks eagerly anticipating breakfast.

Merian awakens early, refreshed and in good spirits after her night out with Arturin. She spends an hour in vigil and prayer before coming down the stairs, smiling brightly. "So, what are we doing today?" she asks. When everyone stares at her and then starts laughing, she blinks. "What did I say...?"

Barret laughs deeply when Merian arrives late and asks about the day's plans, repeating the question of the moment."Nothing. Have a seat, I'm sure breakfast is almost ready. So how was your night out?" He asks her and nodding towards Arthurin.

Arturin wakes and wanders into the kitchen area, a look of a drink too many last night on his face. "Quiet it down you big oaf. Must you always be so loud?". Arturin finds himself some tea and a few biscuits and then joins the rest of them at the table. After a few minutes and some food and drink in his belly Arturin's mood starts to improve. "Sorry about that, I guess I did a few foolish things last night. Who knew I was an aspiring bard? Would you care to hear a few bars of my lovely voice? Just joking around, you couldn't afford my rates anyway."
Arturin then develops a more serious tone. "Well Merian and I didn't find out nearly as much useful information as I had hoped to but that doesn't mean the rest of you weren't successful. What interesting facts and rumors did the rest of you gather?"

Kendra is indeed up and about. For breakfast there is porridge with honey, fresh bread, cheese and fruit.

Dillan grabs some of the bread, cheese and fruit, "Well once Tre awakes i'm sure he has more interesting things to fill this morn. He was able to acquire a book that rather had him entranced in devouring it."

"With our new... acquisitions" (she says the word with a twist of distaste) "from the false crypt in hand, perhaps we should deal directly with the prison ruins," Merian suggests. "Whatever concerned Petros so deeply might still be there, and I'm not fond of the idea of just leaving it to potentially threaten this town."

"Agreed, Merian." Barret replies in between bites of bread and cheese.

Tre, has quietly and unobtrusively taking his breakfast, his eyes reading the tome he borrowed. When he hears the others, he says, "You are eager to meet these dangers, though perhaps we should check the town once more, just in case there have been any other happenings. I litle more knowledge might be an aid too, for there is plenty we will need to know to uncover the truths held in the prison and of the Professor's untimely accident." Tre, looks down once more, to concentrate on reading once more. He scratches his chin, looks up and in a quiet voice speaks to those gathered, "Or maybe little scouting, there is still a need to investigate on the Professor's behalf."
With those few words, he once more puts his head down, concentrating once more on the strange words and symbols in his book.

"We don't even know what questions we aren't asking," Merian says, shaking her head. "At some point, we have to move with what we have."

Dillan watches as the exchange goes on between Merian and Tre then with a heavy soul intejects, "Perhaps she is right." he rips off some bread and takes a bite, "I do not relish the thought for i've stepped on those grounds but perhaps we should go to the prison?"

Outside, the sun is shining brightly in a clear blue sky. Just the right sort of day for visiting haunted ruins :)

Tre continues to read his tome, oblivious to the preparations as the group, engrossed in the powers of the arcane described within, although knowing it may take a while before he can master such spells. A last his mouth dry with the anticipation of the power within, cracks open, "A drink if you may please, Kendra." He looks up from the pages in front of him, seeing a group of men and women readying themselves to leave for the prison ruins. Quickly he looks from one side to the other, "So you're leaving now then?" his eyes wide with a realisation that the action is about to be taken. "Please, wait a moment, I have a few things to collect before you leave."

He rushes off for several minutes, before returning almost ready, "No, my cloak, then I'll be ready.....Yes, that's it, Lead on then, I suggest we pass through the town square on our way."

Merian also collects her gear, but she purses her lips at Tre's suggestion of passing through the town square. "You do realize we look like a bunch of adventurers off to slay a dragon, right?" she asks. "I get the impression that kind of activity might not be all that welcome around here."

"In which case, I'll pass through the square with Dillan, meet you on the path to the prison then Merian. To see what's spooking the people today. Do you think we need to go by the memorial again or straight to the prison?" Say Tre, absentmindedly checking his components belt.

"I see no problem with that, Merian. But if you want, I'll go with you while the others go through the town square."

"We should head straight to the prison. No stops needed."As he looks towards Tre.

"I am with you Merian, the last thing I want to do is get the locals riled up. The fewer people that see us going out the better. Tre, by all means have a nice leisurely stroll through the town before deciding to join the rest of us."

Dillan readies his gear all of it fitting well, tight to his body and capable of being hidden within (under) his cloak. His eyes grow wide at his name being mentioned and a town square, "We are doing what now?"

He shakes his head from side to side, "Have those books drove you mad? If we go through the town square dressed as we are we look like grave robbers, brigands, adventurers and worse still..."he pauses for effect, "Outsiders."

Dillan rubs his neck almost massaging it, "I for one enjoy the placement of my head and wish it to remain where it is...attached."

"Well, if none want to know what is going on in this town today, we'll just head off to the prison as you see fit." Tre shrugs, packing some books with him and following the rest.

OK, so round the edges of town up to Harrowstone Gaol? All of you?

That's the plan as far as I know it.

Indeed, to the place of haunts, death, and madness!

"What could possibly go wrong?"

You head south towards the barren hill atop which the gaol is to be found. Once you have left town, you come to a partially overgrown track, winding around the base of the hill and then back up along its southern slope to the prison itself. The track leads to the gatehouse, but further round the walls have collapsed, the walls crumbling away and much of the area occupied with a sinkhole filled with scummy water.

You may enter via the gatehouse or scramble through where the wall has collapsed.

Looking at the mild horror scene that is the aftermath of the fire Dillan grins, hiding his discomfort, "Shall we see if the warden is in?"

"Let us go." Barret responds while looking upon the gaol.

"You were here before?" Merian asks Tre and Dillan. "Do you know of any reason we shouldn't use the front door?"

Which way, folks?

"Indeed we have come this way before, to discover anything that might lead us to understand how the professor died. We were unsuccessful and the place is not for the faint hearted, for other than Dillan and myself, our other companions chose to leave and never come back. Surely I don't know why, but I'd put it down to this place and its evil demeanor. " Tre looks around once more, recalling his first visit. He continues, "But it is only Dillan of the two of us that ventured inside the gates, for our guide would not proceed with us, so I escorted him back to town, before they entered inside.

Tre looks around, obviously wary of the place, muttering arcane words to give him the strength of will power to enter the formidable and evil place.

Casts resistance on himself, I'm assuming we are going in by the front door (gates) so to speak.

"Best we just go through the gate and into this foul place," The rogue pauses obviously uncomfortable with the task needing to be done, "These grounds are evil...its as if the dead are watching once you pass beyond the walls."

Merian takes a moment to offer a prayer of protection for herself and Cassandra (casting protection from evil on the two of us) and, readying her sword and shield, leads the way through the gates.

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.

Merian in the lead, you make your way cautiously through the gates and into the courtyard.

Map

Before you there is an overgrown path leading towards the main buildings. As you look around, you can see two old stone towers (marked R2), their wooden rooves collapsed and their crumbling walls thick with ivy, which extend a further ten feet above the twenty-foot-high wall here. Off to your left is a small brick manor house (R3), overgrown with thick sheets of grey-green ivy. The roof sags ominously, and the front door hangs askew. Straight ahead, beyond a scruffy tree, stands the main gaol itself, a two-story stone building that 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.

It all looks dank and depressing even in the clear sunlight, you shudder at the mere thought of what it would be like on a cloudy, wet and misty day!

Where now?

Having strength from those near him Dillan takes in the entirety of the place, "Perhaps we should start with the home first?"

"Sounds good," Merian nods, and turns her steps in that direction.

"Sure." Barret follows behind Merian.

"You know we are no closer to solving the mystery of the professor's death. I would suggest we first look to discover anything we can about that, it may help our friend Kendra understand a little more about what happened? I have no objection to continuing on the path you speak, but think we should at least consider taking that path, after all his death did bring us all hear together and I for one would want to find any who might be responsible?"

"Indeed." Dillan turns to look at Tre, "However I do believe it was his investigation of the curse on these grounds that might have caused his death. We all know he was a man more of action when it came to his field of study. Perhaps in our 'stumblings' those that were brave enough to strike at an old man will strike at us?"

You head towards the house. Time has not been kind to it. It is battered and looks on the verge of collapse. Peering through windows, it appears that the contents have been looted.

Do you wish to go in?

Merian steps up to the half-attached door and tries to pull or push it aside so that she can step in.

Dillan follows Merian in ever alert for what may be in the building...

Perception 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22 or 26 vs hearing conversations, finding traps, concealed or secret objects

Tre looks at the structure dubiously, "Do you really think its safe to enter? Wait a moment let me look, we don't want pieces of buildings falling on you, we don't want another accident like the professors." Tre strolls towards the building but does not enter, he peers through the smashed windows to see the condition of the building on the inside, from what might be a safe distance.

Knowledge(engineering) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Merian tugs at the door, which promptly falls off of its hinges and falls at her feet, showering her with debris. Dillan can hear creaking from within as the structure shifts. Tre'duinne investigates cautiously, applying his engineering knowledge... hmm. You are not certain, but it looks fairly unstable.

"Are we going in or not?"

Tre looks dubiously at the building, "After you, I don't like the look of it, you can see its fairly unstable. It's up to you, it might fall, it might not." Tre is the last to enter the building, his eyes keep flicking from side to side, he is nervous and jumpy. As the structure creaks and groans, he keeps stopping and looking towards the noise.

Perception 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 watching and listening to the sounds of the building..

Its up to Merian and Dillan to lead the troops in so to speak.

Dillan follows Merian in to the building...ever alert for anything strange...

Knowledge(Engineering): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
"I am not so sure about this building, it may be better to only have one or two go in to explore it as to not upset the delicate balance that exists."

Merian nods at Arturin. "You stay out here," she replies. "We'll check it out." Carefully, she steps over the threshold and gingerly leads Dillan into the house.