Hearing and noticing Kendra, Ioann stares to the ground in shame. As the shame turns to anger, he clenches his fists, and, shaking, he slowly stands up. Then, incapable of standing the presence of the others, he simply storms off, maiming the door with his fist as he passes it.
Kendra lets out a startled yelp, "Oh! Well that was unexpected. Perhaps I spoke out of turn..." She seems a bit crestfallen after.
"No, he's probably more mad at himself than anything. You remind him that he can be better." Ingrid says placing a hand on Kendra's shoulder.
Aye, just let him be for a bit. He is more mad at himself than anything else.
He then looks around. Shall we go.
Terrance then gathers Kendras purchases, to carry them back to her place.
After a few minutes things are returning to some sense of normalcy. Zokar is moving around the tavern righting overturned stools and picking up broken glasses.
When the group is ready, Kendra gathers her packages and follows along back to the manor. Once home, she sets herself about making tea leaving the others to divulge the last days terrible encounters as well as the details of her father's will to Uklod.
The others find Ioann waiting outside of Lorrimor's house. Keeping silent, he lets them in before himself entering. Once inside, he slouches into a couch and waits for the others to make their decision. For once, he does not try to spur them into action, too focused on his guilt.
Ake walks up to Ioann, keeping her head down and hops up on the couch next to him. Waiting a few moments before speaking she swings her feet several times.
Soooooo, wanna go to the Creepy Prison and watch some horrible monster dine on my intestines?
Could be a great chance to to watch a me die terribly.
In agony, lots of screaming, gore everywhere.
Really horrible.
Someone has to be there when Ravel faints from it, you know.
Might be your best chance to have the last word.
And find and destroy that fool that harmed our friend.
Sounds like a good time, eh?
After getting a coffee, Terrance sits down to bring Uklod up to speed.
Having stayed quiet for the trip back to the Lorrimor residence; Uklod was comforted by the idiosyncrasies and interactions between the members of the group.
He thanked Kendra for the tea and settled in to listen to Terrance's tale. Scowl's and grimaces were evident at hearing of the town's folk's attempted interference... what would drive people to such acts?...especially against the professor?... and shock at Orin's bloody message scene... mysteries abound here...well played professor... The rest of the story was almmost too much and Uklod cursed inwardly again at his delay in arriving and voiced his thoughts aloud.
"I cant apologize enough for not having been here sooner. I accept the late professor's charge Lady Kendra. You all can count on me to see the missive's complete along with you."
We were getting some equipment to assist us further looking at Harrowstone, when those blood sucking bugs showed up.
Now that crisis is finished, I think we should go look further into it.
"Thank you, Uklod, dear. Since it seems both Gellius and Orin felt that this was too much for them, you are welcome to take up one of their rooms. I'm afraid we've run short on space to put people otherwise!"
"Be mindful of lingering alchemical scents in the room Gellius took rest in... Ake, you shouldn't badger Ioann so. Just wait, he'll come out of his scary cocoon in time. Uklod, we believe the answers to the Professor's undoing... and perhaps reanimation, lie in Harrow stone. I tell you true we have already seen the stuff of nightmares, and Ioann's grim determination has been a boon when doors have suddenly shut and locked behind us with no one touching them."
"I believe all the blood was cleaned up in Orin's room..."
Ioann looks at Ake from the corner of his eyes. After pausing for a moment, he finally speaks to Ravel before answering Ake.
"Thanks Ravel, but I will be fine... Ake, I don't want to kill or torture you, I just want you to stop making fun of me. Now, be please be quiet... or be serious." says the man massaging his head.
Ingrid silently ovserves the interaction, a glimmer of a smile on her lips.
Kendra settles in on a couch after offering everyone tea, "Uklod, tell me, has life been good to you since last we met?"
...life?...... the concept seemed a bizarre conversation piece but he understood that small talk could help alleviate the heaviness of the day' happenings.
The young man sipped slowly on his tea. It was much warmer than he liked as he'd grown to prefer it cold while out on the road. Uklod shrugged on Kendra's question and answered in his monotone way.
"I wouldn't say that life has been good but it hasn't been bad either. It has been busy for sure. What's that saying? Theres no rest for the weary? It will be good to sleep in a bed. I appreciate the hospitality Kendra."
Uklod set his tea cup down to give it time to cool.
"Do you think we'll have more trouble from the town's people?"
Kendra purses her lips in thought for a moment, "I would like to say that everyone in this town is pleasant and peaceful; this has been my home for quite some time now. The truth is, however, they are a tight nit group of paranoid gossip-mongers. I am afraid that as more of these insane incidents arise, people might begin to grow suspicious of all of you. They do not take to strangers easily as it is; it took at least a year for Father and I to be accepted here and still to this day there are those who were suspicious of him."
I did silence the small goblin... 'Guess she cannot be serious.
Still clutching his head in his hands, Ioann slowly starts to pay attention to the conversation between Kendra and the newcomer, Uklod.
I wonder if he is like the others, willing to avenge professor Lorrimor... he does carry this sword. I hope he knows how to use it.
Without lifting his head, he decides to speak to the newcomer.
"So, can you use that sword or will we have to babysit you too?
Noticing that what he said might not make so much sense to Uklod, Ioann continues after a short pause.
"Will you join us to avenge those who would desecrate the remains of professor Lorrimor?"
Kendra's face grows pale at Ioann's words, wondering if he was referencing her.
"You'll have to excuse Ioan's.....abruptness. You'll get used to it." Ingrid says with a sigh.
Terrance heads up to his room to repack his gear and get ready again. After a few minutes, he comes back down in time to hear Ioann's comment.
Aye, you will get used to him.
But not to be rude, I also would like to hear the answer.
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Ake visibly bites her tounge, then gives a short yelp in pain.
Why do you longshaks do that? It really hurts.
Ioann is an ass, but he's our ass and he means well enough.
I think there is a nice guy in there somewhere, really deep.
Really, really...really deep.
Thinking on Kendra's words.
Inbred, backwoods, ignorant...and I'm a goblin.
What could possible go wrong?
What could go wrong ??
Lets see, fire, explosions, lynchings.
Terrance says with a grin.
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Uklod's sharp retort to the condescending questions followed a dark look first Ioann's way and then Terrance's.
You two cant be serious. Whats next? A bout of arm wrestling to test my strength? If you only value a man by the discipline of steel then you have already lost most battles.
Second guessing his ire he waved a hand in acquittal.
I digress...but if you had been paying attention instead you would have already heard me pledge myself to Kendra and the edicts of the Professor's last will and testament. If any seek to desecrate his final rest I will judge them, lay sentence and exact justice swiftly.
Uklod outwardly remained calm but was inwardly irked that he almost rose to the challenge of...how do the Sczarni say it?...machismo?...
"Unfortunately, Uklod, there are those who have already upset his final rest. We have had to bury the dear Professor twice..."
A fleeting though of Uklod beeing jury, judge and executionner crosses Ioann's mind. Before he can voice his opinion, Ravel's comment ignites his anger again.
"Right! We are all rested, we have a newcomer. Why wait more? Let's go back now!" he finishes, standing up from the couch.
Turning to Ake, and in answer to her complaint:
"Time to show how book knowledge and magic helps to slay necromancers."
Kendra stirs in her seat, "Yes, well, I am in no hurry to bury any of you, too. Please do be careful. If you are going to Harrowstone, go with clear minds."
Clear minds and Steady Hands, and having rested, we should be ready for the trials that Harrowstone will give us. Are we ready to go?
Nah, You don't get to bury me Kendra. I want a pyre! I am ready to inflict my pent up wrath and anger on the evils we find!
Oh, and the Harrowstone! in no way was I talking about the stu..er, upstandi...no, no, the FLAMING IDIOT MORONS OF this backwater calling one of my real friends a devil worshiping necromancer.
Prison, I want to go to the prison..
Kendra grimaces slightly, "Well, please, no needed pyres either."
Torag willing, there will be no returning to the earth, or the flames. Shall we go
Terrance gathers his equipment, and then heads out the front door, expecting the others to catch up to him.
Ioann, now standing next to the door answers to Terrance:
"I am ready and will follow you."
Turning toward Kendra:
"Do not worry, as Terrance said, we will be careful. No one here dreams of inflicting more pain on you."
Kendra's eyes light up and a warm smile crosses her face. She nods to Ioann. "Thank you."
Seeing Kendra's reaction to Ioann's words makes Ingrid smile despite shaking her head in puzzlement. "Don't worry, I'll bring them all back." she whispers to her friend.
Kendra squeezes Ingrid's hand and gives her a wink. "Thank you."
Uklod quaffed his tea, surprised that is had suffeciently cooled in such a short time.
"A wonderful brew Kendra. My thanks."
The thin man shouldered his pack and nodded that he was ready.
Ravel nods to the others, and closes Narcissa back in her cage. Parasol at the ready, she prepares to follow Ioann's leave. "We will return shortly, Kendra. At least today you know where we will be without being asleep in case we are too long in returning. The doors are tricky, and fell spirits linger, so give us until mid-day tomorrow before you send others to come look for us, there is no need for you to enter that wretched placed yourself."
Kendra manages a weak chuckle and says to Uklod, "You are too kind, thank you."
A moment later, doubt fills her face as she tries to imagine anyone in her small and beloved, yet xenophobic town, that would be willing to traverse into Harrowstone after her friends.
You gather your things and make your way out of town. Miraculously, there is no further incident to slow your travels and you arrive back at the monstrosity that was once the biggest and most secure prison around. It hardly looks any more inviting in the light of day than it did in the darkest hours of night.
Well, shall we start where we were this morning?
waving his hand in the direction of the front door
Sure, a frontal assault sounds fine!
Ioann nods to Terrance and takes the lead, motioning Ingrid to follow him in front of the others. He walks up to the front doors and tries to push them open.
Terrance walks after Ioann, and grins while he cheers him on when he forces the door.
"Uklod, due to the Professor's writings, we have been able to recover a few hidden items that will hopefully allow us to be better prepared to handle the threats within these halls. Do you know much about spirits and the restless dead?"
Uklod walked along beside the witch and eyed the prison warily as he talked.
"I'm no scholar on the subject Ravel, but I do have some understanding of the undead. Will we find them within?"