Of Ghosts and Men (Inactive)

Game Master Twilightrose

Before being able to reply (or to even start bothering to reply), Ioann is stopped by the mention of blood.Wasn't Kendra present when the secret cache was mentionned?

"That sounds strange... who would cover such a monument in blood? Why?" he says to himself, keeping his eyes to the floor.

Ioann, you're right, my bad. We'll say it slipped her mind.

"Oh, oh my. Well that's terrible. Why would anyone do such a thing?"

"Someone who is very meticulous. That was a lot of rat's blood, and it's not easy to pump all the blood out of a creature - it takes me forever to get all the blood out of a fish. And I can't imagine that a rat has a ton of blood in it, so you're probably looking at a dozen rats at least. Possibly more. Is there an extremely suspicious exterminator that lives in town?"

Ingrid gives Gellius an odd look at the mention of bleeding fish, then shakes her head ever so slightly.

Kendra's face pales a little as Gellius describes the amount of blood to be found in the average fish and rat.

Team Memorial makes their way back to the estate without further complication. You find that the others have already returned and Kendra is serving them warm stew.

Ioann sits at the table, both is fabric bumble and the chest containing the books next to him. Halfway through his first spoonfull, which he takes before everyone is served, he speaks of the rat's blood again, clearly not caring about the appetite of the others (or politeness).

"So, how did you know that the immense amount of blood was from rats?"

Terrance grumbles quietly. no respect for families
Locals with no sence of decency

then louder Lady Kendra, if I could have more of that stew
Ioann, are you talking about the monument?

"Of course!" Kendra dips Terrance another bowl of stew.

Orin smiles as they return and looks to Lady Kendra. "That smells wonderful, ma'am. I would enjoy a serving as well." But as he hears Ioann's comments he raises an eyebrow at the man. "Some of us would like to see our meals only once tonight, Sir Ioann."

In response to Ioann's question, Gellius starts to speak, but upon Orin's comment decides against what he was planning on saying. "Uh... reasons.

"Terrance, yes we were talking about the monument. Did you see it?"

Yes, we saw it. Someone coated it in blood with the letter V
Yourself?

Kendra makes sure that everyone is served food and drink as she listens intently to the conversation about the Harrowstone Memorial.

Ravel will eat as the others talk, watching the exchange around the table.

Om nom nom Om nom nom

Ake tries to use her manners, including forks, but soon slips into old habits. She voraciously ingests her food eating a portioning more suited to starving a T-Rex at an all you can eat buffet.

She had only the morning breakfast so far after all!

Anyone that appears to not want to finish their meal, is asked politely,
You gonna eat that?

Even though the amount of food is enormous, Ake finishes well in advance of the others.

Ioann, ignoring both Orin's comment and Terrance's one on respect, still answers the question of the dwarf (without looking at him):

"Yes, on the monument." he says, eyes toward Gellius.

Seeing as the man does seem willing to provide more information, Ioann turns back to his meal and goes on eating.

A few minutes later.
Out of the blue, Ioann starts speaking again.
"Today, I read Feeding your hunger, from what I understood, it is the unholy book of the Pallid Princess. Your worst ennemy, miss van der Geist... it seems that many links can be made between this religion and the Way... might help our efforts to thwart them."

Without awaiting any answers Ioann returns to his own meal. Well, tries to, after receiving quite a bit of flying food coming from Ake, he pushes her bowl away from him, and only then enjoys some more stew.

Orin raises an eyebrow as Ioann talks of the foul and dark book. "A most dangerous book. The Professor must have been researching some means to cull her cult."

"Uh, it was just covered in blood when we saw it. There wasn't any letter V. That's weird."

Yes there was.

"Who is the Pallid Princess?" Ravel will inquire as she pulls a stray chunk of Ake's food from her hair and offers it to Narcissa.

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

" Urgathoa, the goddess of physical excess, disease, and the undead. She is mostly worshiped by dark necromancers and the undead. Most of the followers of the way venerate her in one way or another." Ingrid says, taking a sip of her wine.

Sounds like someone we don't want to meet.

With that, Terrance lets everyone know about what they found at the scroll.

I think everyone has probably already read it, but figured would make it official. :)
So what did you find at the church?

After Terrance is finished, Ingrid goes on to detail everything discovered in the temple archives as well as the approval and agreement to search for the weapons cache.

Orin shudders at the mention of Urgathoa. Foul thing...

He turns to Ingrid though as she explains they have the go-ahead for searching for the weapons cache. "We can go in the morning and try and find it. I'm sure it would help if we come across anything wrong, yes?"

Ioann emits a soft groan of approval upon hearing that people will investigate the cache. But his mood gets more gloomy upon hearing Ingrid's finding on the Whispering Way.

"So, no one found anything interesting about this 'way'... bah. I guess I will have too look into this." he says, at no one in particular.

The man then stands, takes his bundle and the chest with him and goes into the library were he starts searching through the books for information.

Should the check be made the morning after, now?

"What does he consider "Interesting"?" Ingrid says to the rest of the group. "I'm afaid that he's going to bear watching."

Ioann you can make the check now if it is your plan to stay up late into the night reading. Otherwise, in the morning but you'll need to spend most of the day in the library. That would mean either missing out on potential xp with the others going to the graveyard, or spending the rest of the day afterwards in the library. Your call really.

So with permission, we should be able to go see about this stash of undead fighting stuff. However, I think it should wait until the morrow.
With that, Terrance proceeds upstairs to take a bath, then go to bed.

"It is in my experience that things that go bump in the night rarely leave trails to follow in the morning. There are dark things stirring in Ravengro, and they merit a dark investigation. If any will accompany me, I'm willing to look into things tonight, if not the cache then at least see what else there is going on."

Terrance stops at the stairs at Ravel's statement
Ah, but the things that go bump in the night are usually stronger in the dark of the night. I would prefer that they be weaker when we go looking. Besides, how many here can see clearly in the dark?

Well, that's what happens when I forget. Phbt. Long week.

"I'm ready to go tonight if need be - as long as we don't end up spending all night out there we should be fine. I can understand waiting until tomorrow morning though."

"The darkness bothers me not, but for those that are less capable I have a small sorcery that can summon lights to see by."

Gone in his own world, Ioann stops paying attention to the others and searches the books of the library making a mess in the process.

K.Religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18 What are the bonuses for using this library?

Out of curiosity, what was the highest score for the research on the whispering way? Also, anyone interested in helping him.

I actually think Ake hit the highest mark in the beginning. Either way this is for the Lorrimor library:

Lorrimor’s library provides a +2 bonus on all Knowledge checks made to research the Whispering Way.

Right... Ake had rolled twice once arcana once religion... should we take the best one? If so... I think the group got 25 on both checks by now.

Yes, that's correct. That doesn't mean that Ioann won't try to find more information if he is of a mind to. The DC 25 on Harrowstone unlocked a new research topic, though, it can't be researched at the Lorrimor place.

The night provides me no challenge, nor should it you good dwarf.

Sorry about the food in your hair Ravel, I was a little hungry. I forgot to eat my snacks today.

Cuddles moves from her place on the table to Ravel's shoulder and begins preening any missed bits from her hair.

Assuming I live to second level, I am planning on expanding my knowledge skills to encompass any we lack.

Ah this darkness isn't that of a mine, so it doesn't bother me.
I just figured that we would need the accompanyment of one of the preachers in the town to access the stash.
That is why I have suggested the morrow, but if you all wish to go tonight, by Torag's name, I will be there.

"The only way we are going tonight is if Father Grimburrow is available. Part of our success came from showing proper respect for the church,,and it would do us and Kendra a huge favor with the townspeople if he were there to take responsibility for our presence in the graveyard." Ingrid says in a resolute tone.

Gellius sparks up when Ingrid mentions about Father Grimburrow. "Right, forgot about that - he mentioned something about him being there."

Ravel raises an eyebrow. "And does the good father's duty end at sundown? If we seek the stored implements this evening he could accompany us, less likely to draw attention from wandering locals that might hinder us by daylight."

Orin places a hand on Ravel's shoulder. "While it is good to be eager, we have already drawn much attention today. We rest, recuperate and then find this gear on the morrow, good friend. The less we appear to be a burden on this town, the easier this month shall go."

Orin, I agree, as I need some time to regather my wits from being annoyed by the townfolk. One night should not hurt for this.

Besides, being accompanied by the father, will reduce the cries of necromancy, even more so, if we go during the day.

Orin nods at his dwarven friend. "A single night. Let the townsfolk think what they wish, but tomorrow we shall be in the company of their faith's leader. That should compel some of them at least that we mean no harm, yes?"

Ravel sighs, "I suppose, but I don't want to lose our sense of urgency. We have a month here and if the Professor fell prey to a meditated demise I would like to find out what is going on before we gain the same attention. On the morrow, then."

It's just after dark by the time everyone gets back to the Lorrimor place, after having ate dinner and chatted I'd put the time at 8 pm.

"While I wish to take the fight to the Whispering WEay more than perhaps anyone, doing so in a maner that causes minimal disruption to the community would be preferable. Should anything occur tonight it would only further serve to reinforce the need for our assistance." Ingrid says calmly.

As much as I want to wipe my hands of this community, I agree with Ingrid. By Torag's name, I cannot stand by and let evil run free more than neccessary. I will see you in the morning.

With that, Terrance, does the bath and sleep thing.