The team packs up the chest of silver before heading outside to once again breath clean air unsoiled by death and decay. After a few shaky breaths, everyone steels themselves to head over to the barn.
The barn is the larger of the two structures, an L-shaped building constructed around a unique feature— a twelvefoot high stone head, canted slightly to the left, depicting a helmed warrior, his face a stern model of placid determination. Moss has grown over much of the weathered figure, making his features hard to discern. This head, known locally as the “Stone Warrior,” is a remnant of an ancient Thassilonian statue that once stood in the area. Too large to move and too unique to destroy, Hambley decided to use it as a support for his barn and incorporated it into the building’s structure.
Within the barn, the smell of soiled rottenness nearly overwhelms you as you move past the doors and into the warm, dimly lit interior. Not far in, you spy what appears to be a nest.. possibly the place the ghouls were using to rest. Piles of bones are strewn through the nest, some still showing stringy bits of raw meat dangling between the marks of gnashing teeth. Looking closer at the bones, they are of all different sizes and makes. Some look like cow.. others look like pig.. but still others look a little too familiar to be of any comfort at all.
Despite this, you find nothing else of interest in your quick inspection.
"Ugh. The ghouls have been dragging their quarry off here. Ew, ew, ew," says Kiera.
Korghym sighs and rumbles, "We can do nothing for them now. We still need to find their master."
"You're right," says Kiera. "I think we'll have to ask around town, find out what we can learn about the Foxglove family."
Covering his nose and mouth in an attempt to keep back some of the odor of decay in the barn, Andrezi says, "Proper burials are in order for the remains of the Hambley family first. After that, I agree, we should be on our way to see what we can learn."
"We can bury them, yes, we can do that." Volkar said as he covered his mouth and nose with his hand. "I would burn the barn, let that be a signal that something foul is afoot. Then we hurry back as quick as we can to the priest at the temple, give him the silver and see what we might learn about the Foxgloves. Oh, and drink, some good mead, no make that a lot of good mead."
The team works hard to get the dead into the ground before the long day is over, and you wipe the sweat from your brow after throwing the last clods of dirt on the grave just as the sun is bending to touch the far horizon. This done, you turn tail and move as quickly as the darkening night will allow back to Sandpoint.
The gates loom through the darkness ahead of you, casting a darker blackness against the sky as you finally arrive home. You call out to a wandering torch on the top of the wall, knowing the guard holding it will open the gates for you. As the challenge and answer ring out, the guard hurries from the wall to open the gate and pass you through.
With all haste, you make it through to the temple, where Father Zantus meets you in his office. The man looks weary.. and wary.. sitting at his desk, fingers steepled before him. "Come in, my children.." he greets you grimly. "Rest for a moment, and we will call for refreshments. Your guardsmen came scurrying home with their charges, and I have seen to them for now. We will see what the light of tomorrow holds for them. I pray they can make it through the night. What else did you find on that accused farm??"
After the team fills him in, Father Zantus looks on in worry. "I will fill in the Sheriff. You head back to the Rusty Dragon and get some sleep. He will most likely wish to speak to you in the morning, and I will be able to give you an update on the two survivors."
"Father, something doesn't make sense, and there is an evil about that is going to keep killing." He looked over at Kiera, and then back at Zantus. "We have some questions, about some of the families here. Not sure the history of the place, but there seems to be history at play in all of this."
Kiera nods to Volkar. "Go ahead... tell him all of it. We need to stop this before more people are hurt."
"The Foxgloves seem to have a role in all of this and not sure who that is, but we could use some insight. We probably could use some good food, and good ale too, but we should make a call on the Foxglove family." Volkar said as he right forefinger and thumb found the forebeard bead and began turning it slowly. "Right? That is what the note said?"
Father Zantus pauses in ushering you out and considers Volkar with a questioning look. After being prompted by Kiera, the whole story falls out of the dwarf. As he tells the tale, Father Zantus slumps into his chair.
"I knew that Sheriff Hemlock was working on something big.. but he did not even tell me the whole tale it seems." His worried eyes turn towards Kiera specifically. "And I do not think for a moment any of you are connected with these heinous acts. I do not know how the Foxgloves could be involved in any of this.. but finding that key on the ghoul is damning evidence. I believe that a visit to Foxglove Manor would not be out of line in the very near future. However, how the Foxgloves would be involved with the murders here is very much beyond my understanding!" he concludes.
Turning to his companions Andrezi says, "I know we've just returned but I think we would be best served to rest up this evening and make our way to Foxglove Manor in the morning."
"I agree," says Kiera quickly. "This seems like a clear lead. We can't let it lie while other people may be in danger from whoever this is!"
"As I recall, Foxglove Manor is about halfway between Sandpoint and Magnimar. We should make sure to bring enough food to be out for several days, since it will take us a little time to get there and back, not to mention any time we spend dealing with whatever's going on there."
"Well, then we could find ourselves some good food and some better ale," Volkar added. "Need to pick up a few things to help, just in case we find more of the nasties we have seen so far."
He turned back to the father and asked, "Is there anything you can tell us about how not to become one of the ghouls we saw, other than not get bit by them."
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The Skinsaw Man finishes his latest letter. Shoddy paper, leftovers from another time. But it will do. He smiles, feverishly, as he blows upon the ink to make it dry faster.
"I see you nightly in my dreams. Soon, my love. Soon, I will possess you, and you me. Oh how I will delight in our newfound unity."
He ponders upon the next sentence. As he does, the sobbing from up above warps into a screech of pure hatred.
The Skinsaw Man shivers, in spite of his knowledge of her, even as her threats become unintelligible. Death, and this place, has turned her into a creature far more terrifying than he ever could have dreamed of.
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Father Zanthus sighs, rising from his seat at desk to look through the window of his office, up into the starry night sky. "From what I was taught, one becomes a ghoul if one succumbs to the disease they carry in their filthy jaws. Paralyze the victim, then tear out the throat. That's how they "hunt". Desna smile upon us. I would try and find any herbal remedies that are said to help prevent disease and strengthen the body. If you could manage to secure magics that cure diseases, that would be better, but the Song of the Spheres asks us to play the hand we are given, not the one we wish we had."
He turns back to face you. "I don't know that I can help you much with regards to the Foxgloves, or their manorhouse. The one person in town who might know anything about that noble house would be Brodert." He pauses to look at Volkar and Andrezi. "Brodert Quink. He's our local scholar. Poor man doesn't get much in the way of visits so you'll have to excuse him" he offers by way of explanation with an air of apology.
Zanthus sighs. "If you do not have any other questions, you should go grab supper before Ameiko closes the kitchen for the night."
"Oh! Of course. Thank you, Father," says Kiera. "I'm not worried about asking Brodert. He may be eccentric but he's not a bad person." The wizardess smiles appreciatively. "Anyway, if we discover anything that will help with this, uh, 'ghoul fever,' we'll be sure to let you know."
"Thank you for your help, Father Zantus." Andrezi says with a quick bow.
Turning to the others he asks, So a quick bite to eat at the Dragon and then we go see this Quink fellow, or will be waiting until morning to speak with him?"
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Although the group is ambivalent on whether or not to meet with Brodert Quink at this time, the idea of heading to the Rusty Dragon appeals to all, and before long you step on into a "past-peak-hour" common room, where locals are beginning to pack up for the night.
"Long day huh?" asks Ameiko, although her tone indicates it is less of a question, and more of a statement of fact. "Here" she says, setting down some plates of some sort of Tian noodle in a rich spicy sauce that hints at the pieces of chicken within, along with hints of ginger. "Eat up while it's still warm" she adds with a smile, and a nudge, seating Kiera and Volkar. [b]"The younger Vinder girl has been asking to talk to you privately. She's over there" she adds to Andrezi, motioning to a red-headed girl who shares more than a passing resemblance to the victim in the lumber yard. "Poor girl. Her father, Ven, went berserk when he was told of what happened to her sister. Sheriff has him cooling down in the town jail till he calms down. Anyway; she asked to speak to you, so I put her in that corner so you can chat in private here."
Not too far off from the Vinder girl, possibly the reason for the privacy of that portion of the inn, sits a scared and pock-parked half-orc that Kiera recognizes, somewhat. Ullogash isn't typically one to be in town; much like Shalelu Andosana, he roams the wilderness around Sandpoint, dealing with goblins. Unlike Shalelu, his methods are know to be less... Humane. Perhaps a tad more brutal than they need to be.
Ullogash looks from his free plate of food to the outsider dwarf and Kiera, recognizing the later, not so much the former. However, it isn't hard to figure out that these are the vaunted "Heroes of Sandpoint" that have been mentioned with so much awe by the residents insomuch as he has heard of the recent events. The breaking of the Thistletop goblin's strength for instance. But also grim, even more recent events. Events that coincide with events he himself has come to bear witness upon. A family of farmers devoured. Or worse. Having to put down those who still remained, to avoid them turning into the type of beast that the half-orc had to put down, cracking the skull and wrenching the neck so as to break it.
"Poor child, a dead sister and a father driven mad by grief." Andrezi comments, agreeing with Ameiko as much as confirming.
"I suppose I should see what it is she would speak of. I'll be back in a few moments." he adds before walking over to speak with the Vinder girl.
"Greetings, miss." Andrezi says. "I am Andrezi. Ameiko says that you wished to speak with me?"
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The girl, looking a little disheveled, tilts her head up from her seat to the Desnan cleric. "Yes father. I was just trying to reason my way around all that done happened lately to me and my folk. All this... Violence. And now poor Katrine..." She bites her lip, eyes shining with tears as she reaches for Andrezi's hand. "I was hoping to give Desna a prayer, but the shrine in our home ain't consecrated. Maybe... I though maybe, you could help consecrate it? Say a few words and make it genuine?"
Andrezi offers a soft smile, taking the girl's hand an giving it a couple of comforting pats.
"The Song of the Spheres does not demand worship from a consecrated shrine, so many of her followers are wanderers and travelers. That being said, if it would bring you and yours a bit of comfort, I would be happy to do so. Perhaps I could aid in you in a prayer to Desna here and now until such a time I can make my way to your home?"
Somewhat at unease with the insistence of the request along with hand squeeze, not to mention any appearances that going to a young woman's home alone with her might generate, Andrezi says, "It is getting late, Miss Vinder. I fully understand if you do not feel safe, given the unfortunate events that have befallen your family. If that is the case, tell Ameiko that you need a room for the night, and to bill it to me. We will go see about consecrating your shrine in the morning. Alright?"
Ullogash watches Andrezi speak with human woman. He grabs a large chunk of meat by the bone and tears it free with his tusked mouth. The greasy meat drops down his pock-marked scarred face as a piece of skin hangs off his jagged tusk.
He grunts loudly, These are the heroes of Sandpoint? They seem so frail.
He grows angry as the girl starts speaking of prayers and he slams his fist hard onto the table. "The gods ain't going to help you here girl. You need to find the strength in yourself and not rely on the unanswered calls of the Gods." He points his meatstick at the air. He speaks of strength though his own muscular arms are quite thin due to the wasting disease he had contracted.
A young half-elf woman sitting at a table on the other side of the half-orc looks up when he grunts loudly. It sounds like he's disgusted with something or someone. Her white hair and pale blue eyes shine in the lantern light.
She's just arrived in town, and is unknown to anyone but Ameiko.
She doesn't jump when he slams his fist down as if expecting violence from a half-orc. She does touch the sword at her side ready to draw it if necessary. "The gods do answer people's calls sir. They give power to those who are their chosen such as that gentleman." she points to the cleric. "There's nothing wrong with asking for assistance for what you need from the gods. They often answer."
The half-orc gives a small laugh, showing his face. "They ain't even shown me any kindness. What makes you think they will answer this one?" He wasn't necessarily trying to be rude, but rather truthful and his orcish heritage and gruffness comes across as seemingly hostile. Once you actually got to know Ullogash he was known to be quite loyal and a true friend.
"You find strength in yourself and you won't ever have to rely on others to help you ever again." Ullogash explains to the woman.
"Not sure that I want to take advice on the gods from one who appears to have been abandoned by them," Volkar broke his silence as he listened to the long eared, gray-skinned orcish man speak. He took a sip from his mead and continued as he looked back to the striking white-haired woman, "I think you have it right ma'am. Listen to her child, and to our priest, but I would say ignore him."
Ullogash shrugs. "Do what you wish dwarf. Seen more charlatan's in my time than actually proof of the Gods answering any prayers." He rips off another large chunk of greasy meat and takes a drink from his oversized mug as both liquids rush down his chin.
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It takes a few moments for Andrezi to realize that the young woman desires him, leveraging her families' recent misfortunes to ensure that outcome. Perhaps this is how she deals with highly stressful situations. Perhaps this is just how she is; a mirror to the behavior you have seen in many men. The point is, she is trying to lure the cleric into a more... Private setting.
She turns to the others and says with a rather brittle smile: "Thank you everyone but this is a private conversation between myself and the good father."
At this point, coming from the kitchen with a heavy clay jug, Ameiko steps on up to the half-breed. "You could at least try to be cordial to my guests Ullogash" she chides sternly, nonetheless refilling the man's mug. "And all religious talk aside, some of us in town have helped you over the years." She nods towards the man's falchion, adding: "I see Sheriff Hemlock's gift is still at your side."
She turns towards the heroes of Sandpoint to add: "Ullogash is one of our best trackers; only Shalelu had him beat in the past, and nowadays I think it'd be a closer call." She turns back towards him, continuing with a softer expression: "Maybe instead of barking at my clients, you could try talking about the things you mentioned to me. Maybe they could help you, or you them." She strategically sets the jug down at Volkar and Kiera's table, with a mischievous wink before beginning to move towards the back. If you want more, you'll have to talk to them. But she stops as she notices the white-haired half-elf. She frowns, as if she had trouble recognizing her. "Shara?" she finally asks.
Ullogash lowers his head as he begins to get chastised. "Sorry Ameiko. We was just talking." As she begins talking him up he puffs his chest out wide to looks strong and intimidating. "What things?" He asks curiously.
Andrezi offers the young woman a soft smile. "The offer of a room for the evening stands, but I must be getting back to my companions if we are to ever fully solve the misfortune that has befallen far too many in the area."
The priest begins to walk back over to the table with his companions, thinking A beautiful young woman to be sure, but there is no time for such distractions right this moment...
Kiera swipes the jug as Ameiko puts it down, and pours some of the beverage into Volkar's mug, then tops of her own. She takes a sip and then wipes off the frothy remnants.
"Besides," she says while eyeing the mug critically, "Andrezi gets actual blessings from the gods. We can see them work! He prays for help and it happens! Clearly the gods do take a hand now and again."
"You know what it is?" she says, leaning forward a bit. "It's like when the smelly guy with his pants falling down off his dirty butt crack and his hair all greasy and disheveled complains about how women don't like him. You gotta make yourself someone that people want to like. Same for the gods. You want them to pay attention, you have to do the work to get them to pay attention."
Ullogash leans in. "Obviously folks around here aren't paying a lot of attention or they would realize they are in far more trouble than they can see." he leans in further so that others aren't able to overhear. No need in starting a frenzy. "To the east i came across a farm, it was overrun by the undead. Had to kill the family as they were about to turn themselves. Something is happening. Something not natural."
Volkar shrugged and took another sip as Ameko seemed to focus the sitting storm cloud next to them. When Kiera began explaining how Andrezi interacted with his god, Volkar nodded and raised his glass to his lips. He took a sip still listening, and when she went on with her analogy of the lonely, stinky guy, he snorted sending a fine mist towards the floor.
But his mirth was cut short the minute the skittish newcomer mentioned a farm of undead. "What did you find, and where? Quickly, now it's important."
Ullogash creates a make-shift map using salt shakers, plates and mugs."The farm was around here to the east. Crawling with the undead. Sharp teeth, and looked to be starving." He bares his teeth to show the sharpness. "Rest of the family had bite marks covering them and looked ill. Have to do the courtesy of putting 'em down before they turned as well..."
Kiera grows serious at the description. "We were just there yesterday - found several people who'd been turned already, some tied up and left for dead. I have some magic that hurts undead but has no effect on the living, and was able to use that to tell them apart - whoever did this had set up several of the people as scarecrows, complete with hoods covering their faces, you see."
"We have reason to believe that the architect is or was based out of Foxglove Manor."
Ullogash looks surprised. "Foxglove Manor? You been up there to check it out yet?"
"Not yet. Bit of a trip. We only just got back into town and Ameiko's getting us all filled up and into traveling form again."
"So you left the farm we came upon?" Volkar set the tankard down and watched the ale swish within its pewter containment. His fingers found his lucky bead in his forebeard and began twirling it. "Or was there another farm? I am newer here to Sandpoint and so I need a bit more of a map to understand what's where."
Volkar waived his left hand in a circle as it pointed at the various utensils spread about the table that in theory was a map, but known onl to those knowing the area.
"Where are we? Where were we? And, where is this Manor?"
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After getting down to brass tacks with Ullogash, it becomes apparent that the farm he is referring to was further to the east. If portents could be read in kitchen utensils and bowls of food, it would almost seem like whatever is causing these attacks is... Encircling Sandpoint?
However, it looks like you have perhaps bought yourself some time; between the ghouls you have killed and those Ullogash has dealt with, there are considerably less undead in the area. Regardless, it is getting late, and perhaps a good night's rest will soothe worried minds.
"Foxglove Manor is between here and Magnimar," says Kiera. "I've never been but I've heard it mentioned once or twice as a spooky old ruin off the beaten road."
"We should talk to Brodert in the morning," she opines, "Then head for the Manor as soon as possible. Certainly if someone were engineering all of this... making ghouls and leaving creepy notes... that would be a place to hide where nobody would come looking at first. It's out of the way, there's nothing and nobody out there, ever since the family... left? died? I don't really know - well, it's basically abandoned. Nearest habitations are probably some farms miles across the countryside."
Ullogash looks to Kiera. "If that is where all this is coming from then I will head there as well." He nods to the dwarf. "It looks as you need one with a sense of direction anyways." He grunts.
"So its to see Brodert in the morning and then on toward Foxglove Manor?" Andrezi asks in confirmation as he returns to the table.
"Who's our new friend?" the affable priest asks extending his hand in greeting.
Shara waves to Ameiko in greeting. "Good to see you again, and you remembered me. I haven't been here in a while, and I never did stay for long. My home village was...er...well isn't there anymore. Something smashed it to bits. I was heading back after my last guard run, and found nothing left." she takes a long drink of her ale, and stares at the table for a long while.
After a few minutes the conversation around her catches her attention again and she listens with undisguised interest to the conversation about undead and spooky abandoned manor houses.
"Apparently, he found a farm with ghouls as well," Volkar took a swig off his tankard of ale. "Can't make a map worth a tinker's dam, but Mistress Kiera here thinks we should go visit some abandoned manor. Now who's the lady there Andrezi?"
Volkar tipped his tankard towards the white haired woman at the next table that his colleague had been visiting.
"Her? I don't know. Although she does seem rather interested in the conversation we're having here." Andrezi says with a grin before waving the white haired woman over. "Come on over and participate in the conversation as opposed to lurking on the outside."
Shara grins not at all embarrassed at being caught listening in. She grabs her drink and moves over to their table. Taking a seat she shakes everyone's hand, "I'm Shara Lightfoot. Recently arrived in Sandpoint. I've been here a time or two over guarding merchant caravans and such. It sounds like you've got trouble."
"Oh, him, nah he's no trouble, not yet," Volkar said with a wink and a chuckle as he pointed his at mug at the sitting storm cloud that had added details to the infestation of ghouls. "But, we do seem to have a growing problem with ghouls, and Mistress Kiera here things we should go visit some abandoned mansion. Mistress Shara, Volkar Glanral, also relatively new to Sandpoint, and glad to make your acquaintance. That's Andrezi there, and him, well not sure what tall, gray, and grumpy goes by."
The half-orc puffs his chest proudly. "Ullogash!" He thumps his breastbone with his fist loudly.