Hearing Kirill's response she can't hold her tongue "What the heck are you thinking? No, don't tell her it's okay to come with us!" She turns to Kendra, "Zhan is right, there are things in the dark of men's hearts that he would keep you from. We can only try to help in this, but what you do by trying to join our cause is make each of us break our word, to ensure that we would keep you safe and sound. I do not doubt your training, or your ability to look out for yourself, but we all swore we would follow the Professor's last wishes. One of those wishes was for your safety, to join us you would cause us all to break our bond to your father's request of us."
"My point is," Kendra begins with a sigh, punctuating with a long pause, "That I have spent my academic career studying the magic of divination, and now someone is about to launch an investigation into what may be my father's murder, and you're telling me not to trouble myself over it. I may not be a seasoned warrior, but I can help here!"
"Kendra can make her own decision to stay or come. She is as aware of the danger as the rest of us. Any help in solving this mystery is definately welcome!"
"Does your help require you to walk into the lion's den? I have made my viewpoint clear, I think, and I have said the decision is yours. I think it would be a mistake to go with us into the prison, but it is not my choice to make. Let us first go to sleep this night, and prepare to go to the Temple of Pharasma first thing in the morning. Our investigation starts there.
Kenra bites her lip at Zhan's final words. "Alright, the lion's den might be a hair too far. I might not be much help if you're battling monsters, but I can help in other respects. Let me be included from an investigative aspect - that is all I ask." She sighs wearily as she stares absently into the bottom of her glass. "I'm sorry if I seem a tad prickly. It's been a long day. Let me show you to your room before I turn in for the evening." Kendra places you in guest bedrooms, with Delia taking up residence in Petros's former chambers (Kendra feeling that the sole lady in the group ought to have her own room). Afterward she retires to her own room for the evening.
In the morning, you wake to the smell of brewing coffee. Fresh stacks of books are strewn about every surface when you come downstairs, and you find Kendra sitting at the kitchen table with no fewer than three open tomes sitting before her. "Ah, good morning," she greets as you enter the room. "I've put some coffee on, if you care for the stuff. More than that, though, I've pulled some of the books from the shelves that might be useful, so please feel free to look through them. I've set aside a few on old cults, necromancy, things like that. I'll see what I can find in the rest of Ravengro."
Val smiles but shakes his head, "I'm not much for reading and such, but that coffee smells delicious!"
Delia awakens and prepares herself for the day. She combs out her hair, gets her clothes set just right, gathers all her gear, then sits for a minute as she summons Father. After he comes into being, she does her usual assistance to make him appear more human.
But no matter what she does it doesn't seem to be helping much at all.
When the two of them are all ready, they head toward the smell of the delicious brew. As she enters she sees Kendra and Valachi at the table. Kendra dutifully poring through tomes... Valachi drinking coffee and watching. "Good morning you two. Hope you slept well." to Valachi she adds in her sweetest voice, "Could you be a dear a fetch some water? I have some flour and berries left. I think I will try to throw together some blackberry flapjacks to go with the coffee, and make this a hearty breakfast." She sets to work getting the stuff ready.
She makes a good sized stack, but they didn't come out as well as she wished. First batch was a little doughy, so she cooked the others longer, and has a batch a little on the dark side... or on the dark both sides. She also underestimated the berries, and they made the cakes a little bitter. All in all edible, but not a culinary delight like the one from the night before. With a sigh she explains, "I'm not used to cooking for so many, it was just me and..." she stops, turns and wipes her eyes. She composes herself, before turning back around to continue "Well, I just need a little more practice, I'll get the hang of it." her voice returning to it's even timbre.
Kirill awakens to a strange smell, and comes in to see the cluttered scene. He smiles to Kendra and greets her as he would a longtime friend, also wishing any others who have already arrived a pleasant morning. As the lady offers him coffee he takes a look at the dark brew; always on the road he had rarely had any drink that wasn't kept in a glass bottle or a wineskin, and was unsure about the strange liquid. Curiously he elects to try some. When he does so he is pleasantly surprised, but comments about how it could use a bit of liquor to sweeten it up if it were something he planned on drinking on a regular basis. He compliments Kendra for putting so much effort into the investigations thus far, his brows raising at the site of the stacks of books, and thanks her again for the accommodations. He passes over by her and casually looks at what she is reading.
"Have you found anything interesting?"
Agnar wakes up to the smell of food being cooked. Shaking his head to clear the fog of sleep he goes down stairs. Looking at the food being made he sits at the table while waiting for it to be done.
Despite Delia's ministrations, she wasn't helping as much as she'd like to have been. Father assumes it is due to her late evening with the books, and her eagerness to get the day started. After a while with her fumbling, he gently removes her hands and tells her to go ahead and meet the others. After she finally leaves he finishes his daily ritual of trying to hide his otherworldy appearance.
He doesn't realize when he's done just how much he needs her attentive assistance until he goes downstairs and sees Delia's resigned sigh at his success.
Seeing Father walk in as she is eating and skimming through some of the books at the table for key words, Delia remembers that she did not explain his nature last night.
When everyone is down to breakfast, she will give a little insight into his existence.
With a far off look in her eyes she begins to explain "I had a formal education at the Liepstadt University, thanks to the Professor, and was able to learn much about the nature and rules of magic. I just couldn't manage to produce results. I could manage to manipulate the flow with some things and others, but I couldn't manage to do it regularly or methodically. It was the Professor that noticed my latent energies in making some things work, and my penchant for using arcane materials that I should not have been able to with my level of training." She pauses, and takes a sip of coffee.
"After my first two years, I went home to visit my father, a simple yet popular tailor. While there, I returned home one day to find him murdered." this last she chokes out, her voice quavering.
Regaining her composure she continues, "I was distraught, and not aware of what I was doing, but I infested one of his dressing mannequins with an essence of his life force. He has a spark of my father in there. He is a solid manifestation of sorts, tied to me personally. I believe the technical term for it is an eidolon, but to me that just feels cold and takes away the connection I have with him."
At this last she lifts her bangs to show a rune on her forehead the same as the one he bears on his face. The sight of it showing through his features with it looking like it makes up much of his face. The rune is a pair of horizontal parralel lines, the top longer than the bottom. Two vertical lines run between them, angled almost in a V but far enough apart that the lines do not touch. Anyone with any arcane familiarity recognizes it as the rune for protection.
Zhan rises and comes down stairs without calling attention to himself. He finds a comfortable chair and starts reading from Serving Your Hunger and the professor's journal. Other than this, he just waits patiently while Delia prepares the meal.
When Father comes downstairs, his eyes perk up for a moment, and he stairs for perhaps a split second, his eyes over the top of his book, his face expressionless. The moment passes quickly, and he goes back to reading his books.
When breakfast is ready, he'll eat with the others, enjoying a hot cup of coffee in t he process. "Thank you Delia, for breakfast, your efforts are greatly appreciated. Once we are complete here, I suggest that those who intend to go accompany me to the Temple of Pharasma. That appeared last even to be the best place to start, and we can ask our questions of the clerics. Kendra, if you are accompanying us, perhaps you can reintroduce us to Father Grimburrow, and we can explain our suspicions to him. I gather that he is the senior priest? That makes him our most likely source of information as well, so it is doubly the best place to start."
When breakfast is finished, Zhan will aid in cleaning up and washing dishes, then prepare himself to go. He is, as always, garbed in his nearly black, blued steel chain mail shirt, and he spends a few moment fiddling with his mechanical weapon, inserting half a dozen brass cylinders into the device, before holstering it back in the leather sheath on his leg.
"If you're ready, lets go."
Edit:
"Yes, Delia, thank you for breakfast. Me thinks perhaps you'll spoil us before this month is through if you plan on cooking for us regularly; I may not be able to go back to having to fend for myself. [He pauses briefly to consider the windfall he is to receive soon enough and wonders what the cost of a personal chef would be, but dismisses it quickly.] And thank you, too, for feeling comfortable enough with us to share such a personal story- it must be hard to relive those painful memories. I must admit I don't know the pain of your loss. I've never managed to get close enough to someone for long enough to experience such a tragedy."
Kirill eats quietly while the other converse, study the musty old tomes, and have their own breakfast, reflecting a bit on recent matters. With the possibility that the good professor had been murdered by vile necromancers, or worse yet, ignorant townsfolk, gnawing at the back of his mind, the Varisian felt he should be more nervous than he was about persuing Lorrimor's final works and investigating his death. After excusing himself for a short time to don his leather armor and shoulder his bow and pack (along with secreting his stilleto dagger in his boot) he rturns, turning to Zhan.
"I'll accompany you, at least to the temple, where I may split ways with you and wander into town if anyone thinks any of the people of Ravengro might be able to safely and accurately shed some light on our situation. I have a knack for collecting information. But, if everyone thinks we should keep this hush, perhaps I'd better wait until after meeting with the father?"
The graverobber wonders to himself, only halfway joking, if he'd burst into flames or be stricken with some other absurd punishment if he strolled into a Pharasmian Temple with his current profession, but dismissed the grim daydream as he traced Calistra's Sting over his breast with a finger. He knew little of organized religions, but hoped that she'd be the most helpful to offer a small prayer to to conceal his indiscetions. Most of the Varisians he had traveled with seemed to like her well enough, along with Desna and Shelyn, though he doubted the later two would much care for a tombraider either.
After thanking Delia for the food Agnar turns to Zhan "I can go with you if you wish." He than stands up to stretch himself out.
"I'll go as well. It would be best to stick together, especially if those who killed Lorrimor have influence in the town."
"It seems safe to assume all are coming, at least as far as the temple. Kirill, if we do get permission investigate this false tomb, your particular skill set may be useful as well. Perhaps you should stay with the group until that is completed. Let us be off then."
With the full party in tow (presumably), we set out for the temple.
The Temple of Pharasma is not difficult to find. With it's tapered arches, flying buttresses, and a large stained glass window depicting its goddess's stern visage judging those entering its halls, it is certainly the most elaborate (and conspicuous) building in the village.
The benches and pews are mostly empty when you step into the daunting structure. A handful of villagers sit in quiet prayer as dark-robed priest moves through the isles, a trail of scented smoke trailing from his swaying censer. You seem to catch the eye of a monk kneeling before the spiral alter at the far end of the room. He looks over his shoulder, regarding you quizzically before he traces the Pharasma's spiral over his chest and quickly finishes his prayers. He rises and moves down the isle with long, brisk strides, stopping before you and offering a shallow bow. "Welcome to the house of the Lady of Graves - I am Brother Dorian. Is there something I can assist you with?"
Zhan returns his bow, to about the same height.
"Good morning, Brother. May we please see Father Grimburrow? We wish his counsel on some urgent issues."
Delia whispers to Zhan, trying not to disrupt the quiet sanctity of the place. "Don't forget, we also want to search through their record archives."
To the others, before we reach the temple Pharasma, "Perhaps we should keep the false crypt Lorrimor mentioned a secret. The clergy of Pharasma may take exception to our late professor's 'borrowing'... and they may keep anything helpful there from us, also."
The priest crosses his arms and absently taps his chin. "Forgive me, but Father Grimburrow is a busy man. In fact, our Father of Prophecy is ill-equipped to deal with the material world, and our Father of Birth recently passed away, so Father Grimburrow is responsible for duties usually split between three men - he tends to leave the day to day administration of the church to the Brothers. I should be able to help you with whatever you need, and if I deem it sufficiently urgent, I can see that Father Grimburrow is made aware of the matter."
"Perhaps we should keep the false crypt Lorrimor mentioned a secret. The clergy of Pharasma may take exception to our late professor's 'borrowing'... and they may keep anything helpful there from us, also."
"If necromancers are involved, I think we will want the Pharasmans on our side. Whether they know about the crypt or not, it still belongs to them, and I am sure they would not react well if they find out we helped ourselves. I think having them as allies outweighs any benefit that raiding the crypt may gain us in the short term. I may forget to mention that the professor has already been there, though."
"I understand, Brother. We have no desire to upset the day to day issues within the church. However, we do have a significant concern, and I hope you agree that it will be in the best interest to allow us to see him."
"As you know, Professor Lorrimor recently passed away, and Father Grimborrow helped us to lay him to rest. The circumstances of the Professors death were not really known, and in the lack of other evidence, it was assumed to be an accident. However, the Professor left information with his estate that indicated that he was investigating a cult called The Whispering Way. His reports indicated that he discovered that men of this order of Necromancers were active in this village, and were trying to extract something from the Harrowstone. He wrote that he was attempting to catch them in the act and stop them from achieving their goals. This is what he was doing at Harrowstone when he died. Given this information, we believe it is very likely that members of their order encountered him and killed him. If there is cabal of Necromancers at work in your village, do you not think your Priests would wish to know about it?"
"We have come here seeking whatever information you might be able to share with us on the nature of The Whispering Way. Since it is the servants of Pharasma who oppose Necromancers to the greatest degree, I believed that you are likely to know more about them than we. In addition, the Professor wrote that in a hidden location nearby, the temple here has an ancient stash of supplies to be used to confront the undead. He wrote that his research uncovered its existence, but he was not sure you still knew of it, as it had not been accessed in such a long time. He left us instructions on how to find it. We would like your permission to seek it out, and use the tools therein when we confront the cultists."
Agnar watches silently knowing if he should speak he might upset the priests.
Kirill splits his attention. His ears pay careful heed to the words being spoken, although in this conversation he has decided as of yet, not to contribute. Zhan seems to know well enough how to handle the situation, and the young Varisian is, if anything, a bit out of his element in a Pharasmian (Pharasman? Pharisian?) cathedral. His eyes cast about at any treasures the church has; candlesticks, goblets, small statuary, and so forth. He doesn't actually intend to lift any of the valuables, at least not in front of his new companions, but if anything he liked to be aware of his surroundings and his daydreaming did nothing if not hone his skills, oddly enough.
Brother Dorian leans in closely, lowering his voice to a whisper. "If someone had been tampering with the dead in Ravengro, we would know it. Still, not all necromancy deals with such desecration,and cabals can certainly be crafty... Very well. You have been forward, and if the professor expected such forces at work, then I can open our archives to you - under supervision, of course. As far as a store of supplies... I'm afraid I know nothing of such a cache, though it's possibly a previous constituency of the temple had something stashed away. Was there mention of where this store was located?
"Thank you kindly, for access to the archives. As for the store, the professor left us instructions on how to derive the cash's location, but we would need more time analyzing the notes to figure out the exact location. As the trove was once yours, we felt it was best to ask permission before getting too far into tracking it down."
Stepping forward to face Brother Dorian she addresses him, in her sweetest young lady voice "Well, let us not waste valuable daylight. If you escort us, or get us the escort you had in mind to supervise us, we can continue this conversation as we walk." She kindly bows to the priest and offers her hand. "I'm certain there are many tomes within which to look, and I for one am always eager to learn new things." she adds with exuberance.
Leaning back over her shoulder she eyeballs Zhan, "We need to talk a little more about how we go about doing things."
"Yes, if you will follow me..." Dorian begins leading you down the temple's central isle and through a small door on the eastern wall, taking you into the corridors behind the chapel. "I appreciate you bringing this to us before acting. The truth is, if clerics of our faith stored supplies, with our knowledge or without, they are the property of the church. Please let me know once you've ascertained the location, and I will send in a few acolytes to investigate - with your aid, of course. If at that time you can provide evidence of a threat that would warrant the use of whatever we find, I may be inclined to trust them to your charge. I do not like to see the church's resources wasted, but I will employ them where they are needed most."
You pass a few simple chambers that appear to be living quarters - a few monks look up from their tomes or break from their prayers to regard you warily as you pass, though they seem more curious than they do suspicious. At length, Dorian stops before a simple oak door and you hear a click as he turns a key in the lock. He opens the door and waves you into the room, where you find shelves upon shelves of scrolls, neatly rolled and sorted by their content. Three dark-robed priests mill quietly about the room, keeping everything in its place. A fourth tonsured orderly sits at a desk he far side of the room. The scratching of his quill stops abruptly as you approach. Dorian offers him a simple greeting as he explains your presence. "These are the guests who helped the ruffians out of the Restlands yesterday. They are here following up on some business of the late professor, possibly involving a cult of necromancers. Please help them to find what they need,though all of our usually guest rules apply." He turns back to as he moves towards the door. "I have other duties to attend to, but Brother Tillman can help you find what you need. Please respect the scrolls here, and place them back in their place when you finish. When you are done, he can escort you back to the chapel."
She cocks her head lightly and gives him a small smile, "Thank you Brother Dorian, you have been most helpful." Turning to Brother Tillman, she begins "Excuse me Brother, I do not intend to disrupt your work, but would you be so kind as to point me in the direction in which I could find information on Harrowstone? Ledgers, history, logistical matters and other such facts." she stops, arms folded demurely in front of her, eyes wide in expectation.
"Harrowstone? We have a whole section on the place." He gestures to one of the acolytes in the room and nods towards the shelves on the far side of the room. "A shame, really. So many untimely deaths. You won't find anything about the logistics or management of the place, I'm afraid, but we have catalogs detailing its history, its construction, its ruination, and the names of those who perished there."
At this last her eyebrows rise, but she tries to regain her composure. "Thank you, I will make certain to treat the materials with care." She heads off towards the section mentioned, before looking back at the group "Would anyone care to give me a hand?" she implores.
Delia heads over to the section and becomes absorbed in her research, the whole time Father alternating between standing over her, or handing her materials.
You can ascertain that Harrowstone was a high-security prison built in 4594. Ravengro was built along with the prison in order to house its guards and their families, as well as serve as a source of food and other important supplies. The prison was destroyed in a fire in 4661, and has stood vacant ever since. The fire destroyed most of the underground eastern wing, but left most of the prison in tact. The conflagration claimed the lives of all of the prisoners and most of the guard stationed there, including the prison's warden and his wife - though no one knows exactly why she was there when the fire occurred. A statue was built to commemorate statue was built in honor of the guards who lost their lives, which now stands on the edge of town nearest the prison. Harrowstone is widely considered to be haunted by the vengeful spirits of the fire's victims.
"This Harrowstone sounds grim. Whether it was truly haunted or not, if the necromancers are riling up the spirits, it may be haunted now. We must be cautious."
Zhan will concentrate on The Whispering Way in his studies. He moves to the appropriate section of the library, and then brings the collected scrolls and books to one of the tables to study. He keeps an eye out for Delia, and makes eye contact with her to let her know he is available is she wants to talk.
Delia approaches Zhan while he researches, "Well, I found out about a monument to the dead guards, and that no one knows why the warden's wife was present during the fire. I still want to see if I can also find a list of who was incarcerated at the time of the fire." she turns to go back to her studies, before remembering to quickly mention, a little more quietly than before "We should talk more about how we investigate once we return to Kendra's, and are outside the range of possibly prying ears.". She then returns to the section on Harrowstone and looks for more names.
Looking at the others as they research information Agnar than looks over the books on the shelves. He than turns back to the group "How is your research going? Find anything that might link this whispering way to Lorrimor? "
Delia, with what can best be described as a whispered yell, reprimands "Agnar! For one, keep your voice down. Two, can we not implicate the dear Professor by letting everyone think there is a connection between him and the cabal?" Huffing she looks around, before pointing, "How about you see if you can find us a map of the restlands? Look for something that will indicate the mausoleum the Professor believed may contain the tools to fight the dead." She sends him off toward a section of books and scrolls she thinks may have it.
Kirill raises his brows slightly and looks up from the dusty tomes they are searching to glance at Delia, shaking his head with a resigned sigh and a smile as he whispers.
"That seemed a bit harsh, Miss. I know this is grim business, but we're all just trying to lend a hand in the Professor's final work."
Agnar shakes his head than says "What is the point in keeping my voice down? We are searching for information I asked if you found it. Also you should respect your elders not order them around." He than looks at Zhan "Can you answer my question than Zhan?"
Zhan's grizzled face is blank hearing Agnar's challenge, a cold stoic poker-face. His voice, however, is even and as warm as usual.
"Warrior, I would agree that there is no need to raise your voice here. We are probably amongst friends, but Delia is probably wise in suggesting some level of caution. Remember that the locals may be suspicious of outsiders, and we have no desire to add to that natural tenancy. We are researching dark topics, and as we have seen the locals do not seem to have a keen eye for distinguishing dark practitioners from those who would use the knowledge to oppose the same."
"However, I would suggest you both try to treat each other with respect, at least until someone demonstrates themselves unworthy of it." He gives Delia a sideways glance with raised eyebrows and his best 'Play-Nice' look.
"Agnar, may I speak with you a moment? Zhan puts a hand on the warrior's shoulder and attempts to guide him to a private part of the library. He resumes speaking in a much lower volume, "We have not found what we are looking for yet, and it is slow going; there are many books to go through. You are from the far north, are you not? I would imagine that with the many struggles faced by your people to survive, the emphasis we place on writing in these climes must seem odd. Do you have much experience with writing? If not, perhaps we can find another avenue within our investigation to which you can direct your greater skills."
Agnar looks at Zhan speaking lowly "My mother taught me to read and write. I do not have much experience with either as you have said my tribe does not put much emphasis on either. Only time I would get a chance to practice was when I went south for trade with my Uncle."
At everyone's admonishment Delia is taken aback, and scowls petulantly, "I wasn't trying to be mean, but this is a place of quiet study, we all should be keeping our voices at a lower level. Especially when we may be discussing sensitive topics." When she finishes, she grabs the current tome she's looking through, lifts her nose in what appears to be snobbery, and turns around to finish her study.
Valachi shrugs, "No harm was meant, I believe. Some are not used to such places - temples and studies. Like Agnar, I have never spent much time around books. I am no scholar, and have little to add - these places just make me uncomfortable. Lorrimor was the first 'educated' person I met, or befriended."
"I will wait outside... Agnar, if you wish to join me?"
Looking over at Valachi " If Zhan has nothing for me to do I will go with you Valachi."
Val will leave the temple and mill around outside, particularly if there's a garden or trees to shade under. He will basically relax, but also keep an eye out for onlookers.