"Uklod, the spirit board and planchette were items we discovered in a hidden vault in the cemetary... the board allows contact with the spirit world, and questions may be asked of them by the living, but it is a door that once opened can be difficult to close. The dead grasp at the chance to experience life again, and the last time I contact the dead, I temporarily lost control of myself... and tried to hurt Ake. But... the risk may be worth the reward if we can save Ravengro from a darker fate. We have found quite a few items within the vault and the prison thus far, you are welcome to look over what we have... or which items have not been buried for protection. I have held onto the board, the planchette, and mysterious items called haunt siphons, which seem useful in containing the small near-ghosts that inhabit the prison... not quite restless spirits, but rather conglomerations of negative energy given a semblance of repetitive purpose." She looks to Kendra, "I would not count myself a good friend if I didn't worry about you. Of course you may accompany us if you wish... but I can't promise that if things go awry you won't be confined to your room afterwards while we explore." Ravel laughs, letting Kendra know the threat is idle.
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Ioann finishes his breakfast, while the others are discussing using the board. After Uklod chimes in, Ioann stands up.
"The more, the best." he answers to the inquisitor before continuing "I'll get the cursed holy symbols."
In his usual bestial way, Ioann leaves the room, go dig up the bag in the basement, take the holy symbols, bury back the bag and comes back upstairs. There, he sits down in the living room and waits for the others to get a place ready for the seance.
Drawing the board and brass talisman from her pack, Ravel sets them up on the table. Holding the brass planchette, "With this particular type of board, we may only invoke one answer from the other side during any giving sunrise, so we need to make sure that whatever question we ask of or about the false Father is pertinent. Hopefully the religious foci will help..."
Kendra smiles and responds only with, "Will we be tying you down for your seance this evening?"
By the maker, I would make sure such a missive is brought there, unread, and unopened. The only way such would not make it there, is that I do not myself.
Please make sure the person to whom it will be delivered is on the front, and I will endevour to make sure it gets there.
He then grins a bit
Hopefully in a timely manner, but it will get there none the less.
A little startled by the offer of the ring, but he quickly recovers.
By my honour, I thank you, and I will ensure that the letter makes it to Highhelm, and into the hands of your family.
It may take a bit, as I have given my word to help lady Kendra get settled after her fathers death, but I will ensure they get it as soon as I can.
"No need, I can restrain her if the need arises." Ingrid replies, standing directly behind Ravel's seat.
Ravel smiles. "That's what friends are for."
Kendra grins and sits down well out of Ravel's reach to watch the seance.
Well, now that you mention it He sheepishly grins, and pulls out his mauled attempt at a set of crossbow bolts.
Maybe you can show me where I went wrong with these. The maker just asks that we try. Not always succeed, but that we try.
After a couple of hours of being taught, and learning.
I thank you, and I look forward to your coming by tomorrow. I will put tea on for you.
He then makes his way out of the shop, and towards Kendra's place.
Once the tome of the conversation in the kitchen seem to indicate that the others are getting ready, Ioann extirpates himself from his couch before joining them. As he nears the table, the man casually throws the cursed symbols on the middle of the table. He then sits next to Ravel.
"We should ask the spirits how we can use the symbols to weaken father charlatan... Now, go. I'm here if Ingrid proves too weak."
Ravel sits down, opening the wooden case and drawing forth the spirit board and brass planchette. She looks to the others to see if anyone has any last moment interjections before she begins.
Her taloned fingers barely touching the metal teardrop, Ravel enters a state of calm as she reaches out to the other side. She asks directly, "Spirits of Ravengro, tell me true- how can the holy symbols and talismans of Father Charlatan be used to weaken his spirit?"
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Ravel suddenly throws herself into Ioann's arms, "Oh, my love, my love. I thought to never see you again!" Her voice sounds odd, of a higher pitch and more sultry than usual. She then beings to plant fervent kisses all over his lips, jaw, and neck while combing her fingers through his hair. "Stephan, Stephan, oh how I have missed you."
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Ingrid's eyes widen, before the glimmer of a smile appears at the corner of her mouth. Gently putting a hand on Ravel's shoulder she silently mouths at Ioann. "Sorry she was just too strong for me"
Kendra slides her chair back and stands. Her face is a slight shade of red and she moves a hand to cover her mouth, "Oh my."
Ioann's eyes grow wide with surprise following Ravel's kisses. So surprised is he that it takes him a moment to regain his composure and to try and fight back.
Wraping his hands around the changeling's wrist, Ioann tries to force her away safely in her seat. At the same time, to put more strenght in the push and to get out of her reach, he stands up.
"Ake, Ingrid, how long will this last" he says struggling.
This is when he catches sight of Ingrid mouthing some "insult" at him.
"Gah! What's wrong with you! Think of her!" he shouts.
Uklod looked on wide eyed. he'd never heard of spirits acting out in this manner before. Once he realized that Ioann had no intentions of returning the affection he rose from his seat to aid the man in breaking free of Ravel's possessed embrace.
Ravel is easily pulled away from Ioann with Uklod and Ingrid's aid and just as her eyes begin to well up with tears at having been torn away from her love, she shakes her head and her mind clears.
Ravel's eyes grow as wide as the on-lookers. Ioann... I... I..." Her face flushes, and she casts her eyes down. Frantically she stands, leaving the board and planchette on the table. "I am sorry... Excuse me..." The tears of departure turn to tears of embarrassment as Ravel rushes from the room, not even stopping to call for Narcissa.
Taking a deep breath, Ingrid goes after Ravel. "Ravel, it's ok. Nobody blames you for what happened. It wasn't you, we all know that." she says gently.
Kendra, looking a little pale, excuses herself to the kitchen to prepare tea.
Ioann grunts and sits back. After a moment, his head jolts a bit as if he had remembered something. Then, he returns to his downcast expression again before speaking:
"Thanks Uklod... 'Wonder what happened... what spirit was that?" he asks more to himself than to the inquisitor.
Ravel looks to her friend, tears welling. "That was so unbecoming of me... it was not my choice to act that way, but I cannot say that it was not my intention. I think... I think these restless shades latch on to sparks of life... and what burns brighter than passion? She... she loved him so much, her Stephan. Oh, Ingrid, how can I face him after this?" Ravel attempts to compose herself. "There will be no backwards glances after this. Gone are the days when I can pretend he is still the young ward by my bedside of so many years ago. What... what should I do?"
"I....really? Ioann? [smaller]"What is it with you all?" Ingrid half mutters to herself in amazement. "So you have a spark for Ioann do you? I suppose it would make sense for the spirit to lock on to what was already there and amplify it."
She shakes her head realizing her professional capacity wasn't what her friend needed right now. "It's ok, We were all expecting the possibility of something possessing you, plus Ioann's kind of oblivious half the time. He's likely to believe it had nothing to do with you. But....if you actually do have a thing for him....maybe you should say something."
While Ingrid consoles Ravel, Kendra returns with fresh tea and begins to pour the hot liquid into cups offering them around. She glances at the board and says, "Poor Ravel doesn't seem to have much luck with that thing, does she? What now, then - will you take the items to Father Grimburrow? He seemed willing to help however he could, and intrigued by the items when Uklod described them."
Ioann shakes his head, grunts once more, and speaks:
"Getting more people involved sounds like trouble to me... does he possess some kind of skill at speaking with spirits?" he says, without looking up.
He then proceeds to take a cup of tea as delicatly as possible, succeeding surprisingly well considering his general brutish ways, and drinks from it. For a moment, he closes his eyes and savors the taste, memories from his youth as Lorrimor's student coming back to him.
Eyes now open, he gives a quick look to Kendra before speaking:
"Thanks. 'Appreciate it."
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Despite the difference in views, Uklod found himself sticking up for the priest.
"Lets not forget that Father Grimburrow is the head of the church of Pharasma. He should be quite schooled in things of this nature,..."
the inquisitor paused slightly and then shared what the elderly priest had said about the group; "He also claimed that it is no coincidence that we were brought together and particularly that we had one of his church's own among us." Uklod nodded towards Ingrid.
Kendra nods and smiles at Ioann's expression of gratitude for the tea.
"Uklod is right. He is the leader of the Church of Pharasma in this area, and you are fighting the undead. By that alone he is already involved. I don't know with certainty that he can tell you what you need to know, but I don't see why it would be a bad idea to involve a willing expert, so to speak."
One more grunt from Ioann followed by a short statement:
"Sure, let's see..." he mostly mumbles.
Ioann takes another sips of his tea before turning toward where Ravel and Ingrid disappeard.
"No need for more fussing, we all know you were possessed... now, come back so we may decide what to do next." he calls out to the two women.
Ravel dabs her eyes. Standing from her bed, she embraces Ingrid in a warm hug. "Thank you." Putting on her best three-dragon-ante face, Ravel reenters the room with the others. She avoids making eye contact with Ioann as she grabs a cup of tea. "My apologies, all. Hopefully one day I will be able to use the spirit board without... complications." Ravel tries to pass off her mannerisms and outburst as all part of the possession.
Eyes down in her cup, she addresses the group in general, "So... what was Plan B?"
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Ravel can enter the room without fearing any eye contact from Ioann, for the man is hunched over the table, taking a sip of tea every so often. He does not even acknowledge the witch's comeback into the room until a few seconds after she asks about plan B. Even then, he does not look at her: not because he is feeling embarassed, but because he is Ioann.
"Plan B is to ask father Grimburrow for help... 'Still don't like the idea of involving him more...." he mumbles.
Kendra sits quietly sipping her tea, listening as the group discusses what to do next.
Returning the hug, Ingrid returns to the room as well. "Father Grimburrow is possessed of quite a bit of knowledge and no small amount of talent where the war against the undead is concerned." the paladin chimes in.
Terrance continues to amble along, just enjoying the day.
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"If we are to make a day of it, I suggest we beseech the father in the daylight hours for once. Perhaps once we are better prepared we can see what bumps in the night await Ravengro, and Harrowstone." Ravel exits the room for a moment to gather the spirit board and planchette back into their case and rejoins the company. "Kendra, are you accompanying us this morning? Once we all dress we can head into town, we can pick up Terrance along the way. Uklod and Ingrid, you have point as Uklod spoke with the father last night and Ingrid is his favorite." Ravel manages a smile as she cleans her teacup.
Ingrid smiles at the mention of Father Grimborrow's favor. "It will be nice not to wake him up for once. Shall we head out now?" she asks getting up.
You gather up what you're taking and set out towards the forge. You are nearly there when you see Terrance come ambling out, a contented smile on his face. He joins your group as you turn back the way you came. A short while later, you find yourselves at the steps of the Temple.
So anything interesting happen while you were using the board ?
Last time, you tried to attack Ake.