"I haven't found anything hidden here," she finally says. "Which is a good sign."
"Maybe we can get a deal made so that the acolytes of the temple have a rotation where someone comes here to check in on the inmates. Or maybe, since there are just two inmates, we can arrange to have them transported back to town and find a place for them to stay locally so that it's not a walk of several hours to look in on them," says Kiera to her companions.
To the orderlies she says, "Have there been any visitors besides us recently? Do the folks committed here have any remaining family? Is there a ledger? Forgive me if someone already asked, my head is hurting a little bit at the moment from all of the investigation."
Nate looks up from the pot he is stirring to reply to Kiera. "No visitors if'n you don't count the Sheriff bringing Grayst in. Blind Sedge needs pretty much everything done for him any more and no family to do it for him, and Wald needs someone holding his hand every moment if he's not locked in his room. Poor old man'd seriously hurt himself if someone looked away just for a moment.. he's worse than a child. Dr. Habe is the only one that understands this and he makes them as comfortable as he can, making sure that they are taken care of and not just locked in a room forgotten all day by whatever family might take them in. As for a ledger, I don't believe so.. unless you'd like to look at expenses and grocery lists."
Kiera shrugs. "I might as well go over the books. I don't think there will be much there... but you never know, right? I don't think Dr. Habe was involved with whoever did this to Grayst, so... I doubt I'd find any records in there that show much. Still, must be thorough!"
Nate nods once, then moves over to a shelf and draws down a heave ledger volume. After about an hour of double checking sums, reading over absolutely mundane grocery and supply lists, and deciphering cramped and angular writing she is able to say that, at least for the recent past, every half copper seems to have been accounted for.
"When Grayst came, was there anything that stuck out in what he was raving about, anything even stranger than usual," Volkar asked aloud as the orderlies went about their business.
Sense motive
Nate turns to Volkar, and shakes his head. "Just the same stuff that he was blathering about upstairs yesterday. A lot of broken people have come through here. Some rave and rant, others are just shells of a body. Whatever he went through.. it broke him. There's seldom any sense to any of the babbling, so you learn to tune it out."
"Well, we've taken enough of your time. Give us a few moments to look around and then we'll out of your way." Andrezi says, picking up on the orderlies disinterest in whole situation.
"Oh, I bet that is really a constant." Volkar said with a nod of agreement. "I agree with you Andrezi, we may be adding to these men's efforts in a way that isn't all that helpful. Maybe we could just see the Good Doctor's office and notes? That might be the best way to resolve this issue with the Father and the Sheriff."
Kiera nods and rubs her eyes. "Sure... I've about absorbed all of the numbers that I can for now," she says.
One of the men runs down to the cottage, and brings back a portfolio stuffed with papers. Most of it is obtuse medical terminology and observations of clients both current and previous, all relating to the study of mental health and Dr. Habes incessant search to find the root and cause of such problems in an attempt to find a cure. There are a few pages documenting the changes in Grayst's condition, as well as impersonal and bland observations of his decline and the possibility that understanding this disease pathway and pathophysiology may lead to a better understanding of the disease itself.. eventually leading to a cure.
"This is not helping," Volkar sighed as he looked over the papers with the others. "We've missed something, something doesn't make sense with all of this."
His fingers went to the forbeard bead and it moved about as he looked into the distance. "Now what should we do?"
The group packs it up and returns to town with nothing more to find in the Sanitorium. They have perhaps more questions than when they started out, but the team is relatively sure that whatever was going on, the orderlies at least are only doing their jobs.
As you are entering town, you notice a commotion coming towards the main square. Curious, you draw closer to see several of the town watch escorting a horse topped by a roughly clad dwarf with a human riding double behind. The guard is trying to hurry the trio along, but a crowd of townsfolk are drawn to the mans panicked babbling. Reaching the front of the town hall, the strangers are quickly ushered inside while one of the guards holds the traces for the horse.
Kiera answers Volkar during the walk back to town, "I feel a little like that, but... there's nothing to be found with our current skills. It looks like Dr. Habe was just a case of a physician who became so obsessed with understanding diseases that he forgot that the whole reason to understand them is to cure people and help people who are suffering. Indifference to suffering... which the orderlies seem to have, too, no doubt influenced by their boss. Though I can't imagine spending your life day in and day out having to care for people who are that... difficult. It must wear on you."
"Anyway, what leads do we have left? Not a lot, as I recall."
~~~~~~~~~~
As the team arrives back in Sandpoint, Kiera's brow furrows in concern, and she asks one of the guards, "What's going on?" as they're ushered in.
One of the rear guards looks over his shoulder and starts a he recognizes Kiera and the Companions. "Ye've the luck of the gods, girl.. but which ones are debatable. Better follow us to see the Sheriff!" He turns back to escorting the two people unknown to you, and calls forward to the other guards in front. "The Heroes are back! They're coming up behind us!"
Volkar tried to make sense of the scene in the square. A cousin of the mines and mountains being escorted to where they were heading. He got distracted when the guard called them "Heroes," and looked about trying to find whoever the guard was shouting about. It was the he saw faces turning towards him and his companions. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment and he tried to just look straight ahead without any acknowledgement of what the guard had so easily proclaimed aloud.
As the group reaches the top of the stairs and turns for Sheriff Hemlock's office, the Companions trail along looking concerned and mystified.
The dwarf seems to be perfectly fine, but the other.. is a different story. Underneath the mud and sweat he is clad in roughspun clothes of the type farmers fron the Hinterlands wear, and he is babbling incessantly as the guards lead him in and put him in a chair while the dwarf stands to the side quietly. A tankard of cold water is pressed into the distraught mans hand, and he drinks thirstily, sloshing half the water down his front. Meanwhile, Sheriff Hemlock looks on in concern.. both for his usually spotless office and for the citizen.
After a few moments, the Sheriff breaks in trying to get some sense from this man. "Dead, all of them dead. All the family. Scarecrows dun it! The damned walking scarecrows.." he dissolves into incomprehensible babbling once more.
"Dead? What family? Scarecrows?" Andrezi quietly and confusedly says to his companions.
"Sheriff, what is this poor soul talking about?"
Sheriff Hemlock looks to Andrezi, wearing a face showing just as much confusion as everyone else. "I've no idea, but I'm glad you arrived when you did. Saves me from tracking you down. At least this way you can hear it from the horses mouth!"
It takes several minutes of concerted effort from the companions to get a somewhat coherent story out of the man. It turns out that he is a farmer from the Hinterlands, and he and his neighbors have run into some difficulties lately.
"We've been plagued by foul walking scarecrows stalking the night!!" the man exclaims, eyes wide and darting from face to face. "All tha farms.. We knew somethin' wasn't right. You'd hear screams through the night, and then when dawn broke we'd check our neighbors.. but there'd be nothing! Maybe a splash of blood in the dirt, but no bodies, no animals, nothing! Just gone! Finally, those of us left got together. Figured that the middle of it all was the old Hambley place.. things just ain't been right out there for a few days now. But when a group of us paid a visit to their farm yesterday evening, we were attacked by folk that looked like corpses but fed like starving animals! It was horrible! They.. they.. just tore into us!!" the man is quickly losing what hold he had on his sanity as he stares around the group, bug eyed and red faced. He's really worked himself into a lather; breathing like a bellows and alternately clenching his fists and wringing his hands. Then he blurts out "They even ate tha Dogs!!!"
Kiera turns to Sheriff Hemlock and says, "You're right, this sounds like something we should look into. Maybe it's connected with all the rest of this mess, somehow."
"And who was the fellow who came into town with this news?" she says, clearly referencing the newcomer.
The Sheriff turns to the newcomer as well. "I am interested in your part of this story as well.. Who are you, and how are you involved in this so far?"
"Did you see anything else out there? Any large creatures, by chance walking a bit wobbly or such?" Volkar had a level of disbelief in his voice, and made a quick set of gestures with his hand to his colleague like lifting a pint or two. "When did the screaming at night and such start?'
"Its been a few days now. Started probably three nights ago.. maybe four. An I don't like what you're saying here.." the man says, getting out of his seat. "If'n ya seen the things I saw last night, you'd a had a few drinks to steady tha nerves too!!" he looks to the Sheriff for support. "Hemlock, you've know me and known us farmers for a long time. It's bad. Last night was real bad!!"
The sheriff steps forward and places a calming hand on his shoulder. "Grump, you're right. I've known you to be a steady man in many situations. They are just trying to make sure of what you've seen, is all. We will get this taken care of, I promise you. Go have a lie down, and I will see you shortly to let you know whats going on." Turning to Volkar, he continues after Grump has been led out. "To be honest, seeing him in this state makes me wonder if he's not underselling this. Grump and his kin have always been a stalwart group, not given to exaggeration. I wonder if the 'shine isn't perhaps dampening his memories any.."
"You think he was drinking because whatever he saw was so bad that he couldn't take it?" says Kiera. "Well, we better check it out regardless. I guess we'll see for ourselves."
The new dwarf offers a hand of short, thick fingers to Kiera, "Name's Korghym," and then shakes hands with the others as well. "I caught this one on my way into Sandpoint, and he clearly needed help." And helping out is the perfect way to drum up some customers.
Andrezi sighs. "Seems our work here is never done."
"Good to meet you, Korghym. I'm Andrezi."
Turning back to his companions he says, "I think the sheriff has the right of it. Let's get some rest, come back and talk to Grump when he's a bit more together and see where things take us from there."
Kiera accepts Korghym's hand and shakes as best she can (which is to say, weakly).
"Hello and welcome to Sandpoint. This is Volkar, and this is Daelric," she says, introducing the other two dwarves.
"I'd like to hear more about your discovery. I'll buy drinks, if you'll tell the tale," she says. Glancing to Andrezi, she says, "Rusty Dragon?"
"Rusty Dragon is always a good choice."
Korghym's grin looks like it could swallow his beard, "I've rarely heard a better idea! The Dragon, it is." Looks like this investment is already paying dividends!
"You've arrived at an opportune time. Our dear seaside town has had some trouble of late, and we've been trying to look into it, and maybe this person you captured can give us some clues. Also, Daelric here has been looking for his father, but without much luck, and may need to move on to try to find the trail again, so we could use some help. You look like you have a little experience under your belt. Let's discuss it over drinks and dinner, if you don't mind."
"Well, Cousin, it seems you have found someone who doesn't know that offering to buy drinks for dwarves is usually the way to a very, very empty purse," Volkar said with a wink towards Kiera.
"Volkar Glanral, welcome and let's see if we can put away enough mead to make her purse feel real light," he said as he put his hand out to shake the newcomer's hand.
Sheriff Hemlock nods to Kiera. "I believe that to be the case. Perhaps he fortified himself enough to try and make it here to get help. I will need you all to look into this as soon as possible. I can give you 4 of the guards to take with you.. thats how serious I take Grump's word."
The team takes their newest acquaintance to the Rusty Dragon where you all find seats and get dinner. Ameiko treats you to your regular fair of spicy meats, hearty potatoes, and tasty ale.
Early the next morning, you meet up at the town hall where you find the Sheriff waiting for you with four of his men. "Good morn." he greets you. "These men will accompany you to investigate the farms. This should give you enough trained swords to handle just about anything. Anything else you need before you head out?"
True to her word, Kiera picks up the tab for the booze, and the drinks flow late into the evening. She cuts herself off after her third ale, already a little woozy, but insists on upholding her promise. All the while the takes the opportunity to learn a bit about Korghym, and to relate a few tales of their own group's odd adventures. She seems to have a particular focus on sailing, and telling about sailing up the coast to harass the goblins east of Sandpoint, but combined with the stories from Andrezi and Volkar it's clear that this team has been involved in some oddball shenanigans in the last few weeks.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Morning," she says cheerfully, while sipping at her waterskin. "I'm going to swing by Bottled Solutions and pick up some alchemical fire. If we're fighting walking scarecrows, that seems like it would make sense."
"Alchemical fire? That would seem to make a good bit of sense, Miss Kiera. I think I may join you in the endeavor."
"What is it they say? Three's the charm? I'll see if they have some acid flasks, too."
The team gathers up the four guards to assist the party, and then stops by Bottled solutions on the way out to clear them out of Alchemist's fire and acid.
The trip into the hinterlands takes a couple hours, and the sun has risen fully before the party makes their way to their destination. It seems that news of the "troubles" has spread quickly.. the farmers you pass are tightlipped with worry and suspicion, refusing to talk to you as they move quickly away as soon as you are noticed. Over three dozen farmsteads dot the fields and vales southeast of Sandpoint, the furthest being some six miles from town.
As you continue to move south, the road devolves into footpaths, dusty tracks about 10 feet wide hemmed in by fields of corn and other crops. These paths connect the farmsteads like arteries, crisscrossing the fields and allowing everyone to keep in touch with their neighbors.
The Hambley farm is nestled at the western edge of the Whisperwood, a forest said by some to be home to capricious gnomes, pixies, and other fey. Fields of tall stalked plants transform the paths between them into oppressive tunnels, making it dangerously easy for visitor to become lost.
You come over a slight rise and brief break in the vegetation and the Hambley farm is spread out before you, with the house and barns nestled up against the fields surrounding it. Several paths allow entry and exit to this oasis, but a maze of tunnels lie between you and the farm.
As you descend into the warren, you see a crossroads coming ahead of you, with a scarecrow perched on its crossmembers on the south east corner.
Korghym pulls out his longhammer and turns to whisper at his new companions, "Didn't that farmer say something about walking scarecrows?"
"Aye, he did, cousin, he did," Volkar nodded and unfastened his war ax. "If he was telling the truth, being on guard is prudent, but how do scarecrows walk?"
He looked ahead and saw the scarcrow at the fork of the road.
Volkar sees corn. And lots of green. And maybe a shape ahead, but he's not sure..
[dice=Perception]1d20+8
Volkar sees corn. And lots of green. And maybe a shape ahead, but he's not sure..
"Lots of corn, good harvest it seems for the farm here," Volkar said with genuine interest almost as if a squirrel had ran across their path and he went off to follow it.
[spoiler] OF COURSE HE ROLES A NAT ONE!!! LOL [/b]
Andrezi laughs, "Yes, lots and lots of corn...and not much else beyond that scarecrow up there."
The team moves into the first crossroads in front of them. The pathways stretch to the left, right, and center, and a darkly clad scarecrow looms over the top of you from the southeast. All three paths curve out of sight shortly after the intersection.. which direction to you start down?
"What say we take a right at every fork? It's a good way to avoid getting lost."
Looking at the crossroads, Volkar looked at the scarecrow looming over them, and then to each of the roadways before them. "How about straight past that ugly thing?"
Volkar pointed at the path that headed to the southeast and past the looming scarecrow.
Korghym leads the team down the corridor and hangs a right as Volkar calls out from behind about going straight. Evidently the newer dwarf didn't hear him, as the party continues to trundle west. It takes a while, and afte some time you figure out that your decision to always take the right hand path has led you on a wide circumference of the property. Approaching another junction ahead, you see another scarecrow mounted to some crossbeams on your right.
"Apparently, they don't hear all that well in that set of mines?" Volkar groused aloud to himself as the continued along the cartway path between the standing walls of cornstalks.
When they came upon another junction, with another scarecrow, he asked, "Not being from a farm, is it common to have those things at every junction?"
As Volkar approaches and peers cautiously up at the scarecrow, he can see movement.. was it just fabric wafting in the slight breeze?? No.. The Scarecrow's head rolls on its neck like a lifeless rag doll. and a bare dry rattle of a breath escapes from its chest as it hangs, tied securely to the crossbar.