"With these things, don't check, make sure." Idun suggests instead that Khamul give it another few good stabs before checking closely, if only for demonstrating proper procedure to a farmer who may not have the expertise to tell at sight.
"Idun has the right of it" says Khamul as he drives his longpear through the thing's skull.
He takes a moment to focus himself and then continues as he takes a closer examination of the thing: "How tough are you old man? If these critters can't break loose from their posts ... Come to Sandpoint with us, and we'll get you a squad of Belor's lads. You can lead them around to all the scarecrows in these parts and they can get some target practice in. Mind, I'd only do that in daylight and in a group. Might not go so well alone, if the ghoul could tear itself free."
and another +4 if detect danger applies...
4 ranks +3 trained +1 trait +1 guidance
The farmer shakes his head. ”Would that I could, my friend, but these old bones can only move so fast and I have a farm to take care of. Still, I could lead some of them out here to some of the other farms, if you can convince the Sheriff to spare a few guards for the job.” He lets you finish studying the ghoul.
From what you can tell, it should have been able to tear itself free. Ghouls, while feral, are very strong and the twine that it was attached to the post with was not the best. In fact, you can see it frayed in places. On closer inspection, despite the stench, the twine was actually cut to make it fray easier. You also know that ghouls usually can walk around in daylight, even if they don’t like to. This one seemed to be rather averse to it. Continuing to check it over, you finally find a difference between it and most ghouls. This one has the remains of a seven-pointed star burned into its chest. Another few stabs from your spear would have demolished it altogether.
"This thing should have been able to tear itself free - I've felt their unholy strength, and the twine is frayed. Heck, the twine was cut to make it fray easier. That says to me these things are being ordered to replace the scarecrows and it stayed put because of those orders. But sooner or later, someone's gonna give an order to tear themselves loose. We'll hustle our butts to Sandpoint and talk to Belor all right, try to get some guardsmen out here to put down as many as we can while they're still on the poles... So that's the plan."
Then he looks squarely at the farmer and continues " But some free advice: the farm may have to take care of itself for a while. 'Cause when these things get down off their poles, y'all gonna want to be forted up with a bunch of friends who can use some steel... Not all alone on your own farm. I don't know if that fort is Sandpoint, or if you and the neighbors are just going to pick one house for all of you to overnight in, but I'd figure it out the answer real quick like."
Suiting word to deed, he turns away and heels his hound, heading for Sandpoint at a quickmarch.
"Hopefully we can get you help before it comes to that, but these days are rough." Idun adds before following Khamul.
”I’ll keep that in mind,” he calls as you turn to leave. ”You’re welcome back any time.”
You arrive in Sandpoint, the guards waving you in, since the gate is open and they know who you are. One of them yells down from the top, ”Sheriff wants to see you. Says there is someone looking for you.”
Khamul replies "Good, we want to see him, there's news! He at the garrison?"
Khamul heads over to the garrison, hitches his hound outside, and heads on in to Belor's office...
Dora is still sitting next to the sheriff.
"I am really looking forward to meeting these heroes!" she notes.
Moonday, 21 Lamashan 4707, 11:58am. 30 degrees, Light Breeze, Clear. Sandpoint Garrison, Sheriff’s Office.
You arrive at the garrison, being led directly to the Sheriff’s office. His usual grim demeanor is combined with a sandwich that he had ordered from Benny’s earlier. Apparently messenger boys do more than just take messages. As you pile into the room, he looks at each of you and raises an eyebrow. ”Before you tell me what you found out Khamul, I want to introduce you to Dora. I’m not sure how she heard about you, but she is here to help us with our ongoing investigations.” He gestures to indicate that she should introduce herself.
Dora nods with a smile.
“Well, it is a pleasure to meet you! We have heard of your heroism, and that you are trying to fight the undead horrors that are plaguing this city! I would very much like to assist you! Protecting the innocent people of this town is important for me!“
"Well- She sounds nice, and at this point I'd be tempted to accept aid even if was hellknights offering it." Idun seems to be okay with it, but still seems to look to Khamul to have the final say, as though he was defacto leader just by having a calm head on his shoulders.
Khmaul raises an eyebrow at unexpected deference from Idun, and looks Dora up and down; then he asks "Hmm. I'm not real comfortable with dropping someone who can't take care of themselves into the trouble we've been stirring up. What've you done, and what can you bring to the table?"
Dora nods.
“Well, this is an excellent question! You want to be sure that I can assist and will not endanger you because of my inability! I am a capable healer, I can cast spells, and I have an aptitude for the knowledge of the world! And I hate to see those that need protection getting hurt!“ she says with a smile.
"I'm down for a demonstration!" Idun still bears poorly bandaged wounds from the expedition, and bares one of them.
Khamul looks at the teams assorted ouchies and nods, "Welp, we can surely use a healer and we keep on running into questions we need experts for. And, as Idun says, we're in enough trouble that we'd take aid if it was the Hellknights. We'll try it out and see how it goes... So let's tell yesterdays tale."
He grabs a chair and starts talking "Make yourself comfortable folks. To begin with, good news Belor, don't think Blue Coat will not annoy us again. He got beaten to death and then dissolved into a patch of mold...", that last comes with a distinct note of self-satisfaction in Khamul's voice. He continues "So, yesterday, we went off to the old Foxglove Manor to have a look see, having been pointed there by a bunch of clues. We swept it top to bottom for things that would eat people, and found and put down a few. The place itself, however, is clearly haunted - people get visions of other folk's memories that come with compulsions to do stuff, pieces of cloth that try to strangle those that touch them, unnaturally growing mold and other weirdness - most of which we," he gestures indicating himself, Grenz and Idun, "don't have the magic knowledge to understand. So we need a mage of some sort; maybe drag Cai out there. I'm figuring that Pharasma is taking a hand in whatever's going on in there, her spiral symbol keeps appearing in mold, in fallen mirror shard, etc. I figure a priest wouldn’t hurt either. The problem with that is that the Pharasmins are in this up to their eyebrows already, what with the Bloody Knuckles. Do we trust the Pharasmins?"
"But, things we found out. There is a set of catacombs below the manor. The manor is built on top of some much older structure built deep in the rock of the cliff it's on, and the sub-basement links up to this structure - presumably built with intent."
"So we went in there scouting about. After a bit of poking about we found what I think was the undead remains of Iesha Foxglove chained up in the attic. Grenz got the insane idea to release the thing, and it proceeded to go a hunting, ignoring us. That led us down into the catacombs below the house. In the catacombs we found a bunch of ghouls, which we dispatched, although they came close dispatching us..."
"Following Iesha then led us to what we think was blue-coats lair. Iesha and blue coat were fighting, and we piled in on her side... She clearly had a great hatred for him and destroying him was her shade's purpose - I speculate she was chained in that attic alive, and starved to death... Between us all, we killed him, at which point, his body was eaten by unnatural black mold. After he fell, Iesha promptly went back into the great dark... "
"Searching his lair is where things got real interesting... We found this letter" he pulls it forth from his jerkin and waves it "which is both revelatory and concerning. Blue coat was formerly Aldern Foxglove, the last owner of Foxglove Manor. He’s been collecting victims for a Sihedron Ritual, at the behest of someone calling themselves Xanesha, Mistress of the Seven. He, and Xanesha, are involved with some group called the ‘Brothers’. It’s also clear he has minions or sympathizers in Sandpoint, from some of the items found. Specifically, he’s had them watching and stealing from us...”
”After a sweep of the house to eliminate anything that might be wandering about and eating travellers, we went and found a farmhouse for the night.” Khamul looks directly at Belor ”You know that old guy who farms just off where the Lost Coast Road meets the Foxglove River? The guy who been complaining about his scarecrows being messed with. It was him. So in the morning, for services rendered, we went and checked out his scarecrow with him... You should have listened to him. His scarecrow had been replaced with ghoul tied to the pole. We put it down... It wasn’t actually secured to the pole, could’ve jumped down any time it wanted to. But didn’t, even when we started stabbing it. I’m guessing that means someone used magic to compel it up there, maybe as a spy, keeping an eye on the countryside. But sooner or later, I figure it’d be ordered down from the post, to make a mess. We promised him a squad of your lads with crossbows to check the rest of the scarecrows out. I figure that’s a good use for your lads, taking some of our enemies eyes away. But tell them to be careful about it, ghouls are nasty in a scrap.”
"As for what we’re doing today, I'm sure the haunting on the manor isn't broken, and there's more information to be had from that house. We need to get some supplies - holy water, some sort of alchemical compound to kill mold dead - and then we'll go back there and search the place thoroughly. After we're done that, I propose we burn the manor to the ground... and if we can figure a way to collapse the entrance to the catacombs, we’ll do that too."
Dora looks at the three adventures and is suddenly shocked that they are wounded.
“Oh no!! I’m sorry that I did not see that earlier!“ she says and touches the three adventurers.
You see that your wounds are transferring to Dora and she starts bleeding but then she touches herself and heals her wounds!
Dora listens intently.
“Well, thank you very much for all these information! It gives me a good overview of the actions that you have taken, but at the same time it reveals that there is more that we need to understand to be sure that the evil forces that are moving against this town are really dealt with!“ she says to Khamul.
Sheriff Hemlock seems almost shocked to hear that Foxglove Manor is the source of the problems. ”Well, I believe that makes sense, since Aldern Foxglove was a visiting noble earlier this year, just before the Swallowtail Festival. I knew he had started working on renovations, but this.. turning into a ghoul and feeding on the people and creating more ghouls. You are right to suspect there is far more afoot. In fact, if the Bloody Knuckles are in on it, that would make the most sense as they arrived just after he did.” He pauses, rubbing his chin in thought. ”I don’t trust the Pharasmins as far as I can throw them. I am certain there is a reason Zantus doesn’t have a place for them at the Cathedral. I am not one to start a holy war, but some of the Knuckles did have that Pharasmin flower on them. Before we go knocking down their doors in Magnimar, I suggest we find more solid evidence.”
”As for Maester Grump, the farmer you mentioned, I will send a few boys his way to round up what is left of the ghouls in the farmlands. With the Magnimar troops still here until Spring, we can afford a few for cleanup. Your next step is to talk to Zantus and see if he can help put down the manor. Before we do that though, we have to make sure there are no more legal holdings on the place. Else we risk noble retribution from Magnimar. You can go to the town hall and look at the records and see what you can find out.”
He sighs, ”I am just glad the murderer is dealt with. We didn’t need a second Unpleasantness.”
"Thanks a bunch! That feels good as new!" Idun gives herself a once over, stretching this way and that before removing bandages and re-situating herself.
After Hemlock says his peace, Idun groans. "Oh, the only thing worse than ghouls gnawing your arms off, paperwork." But nonetheless she readies herself to go.
Khamul reacts much the same way as Idun, sitting up straighter, his burden of pain having been relieved. He looks Dora in the eye and "Ok, healing is clearly within your capabilities. Provisionally, you're in."
Addressing the group at large, he continues "All right, it's just past noon now, and it'll take us till dark to get back to Foxglove Manor. I don't think that running around in that place after dark is a good plan. We'll spend until midafternoon getting supplies, talking to Zantus and visiting the town hall. Then we'll head out and overnight with Maester Grump again. Tomorrow morning, we can head straight to Foxglove Manor for a thorough search."
Dora nods.
“That is a good plan!“ she says.
Khamul turns to Belor "So that's how things stand and what we're planning. Before we start along, did ya get anything further out of that acolyte who got his throat cut?"
Once Belor has answered, Khamul proposes: "All right, let's go have ourselves a well earned lunch at the Rusty Dragon and lay out who's doing what this afternoon."
Sheriff Hemlock nods. ”After you left, we questioned him and found out that our murderer had been using some leverage to keep him in line. It seems the both of them had some debts in Magnimar that needed to be repaid. Zantus has stepped in on his behalf and asked to keep him under observation so that he may return to his duties at the Cathedral and repent for what he has done.”
Moonday, 21 Lamashan 4707, 1:24pm. 32 degrees, Light Breeze, Clear. Rusty Dragon Common Room.
At midday, the common room is packed with folk enjoying a meal of fried fish and baked potatoes with a sweet sauce and washing it down with their choice of teas and ales. Bethana is busy bussing and serving tables, but she is cheerful when she recognizes you. ”S’about time you came around, haven’t seen you in a bit. Thought maybe all that adventure caught up to ya.”
"Oh c'mon Bethana. It's been what, two days. We're big tough adventurers and we even have Grenz to keep us safe, what did you think was going to happen to us?"
Khamul plows into lunch with the enthusiasm of a halfling who's missed his elevenses... He doesn't make conversation, stuffing his face instead.
After lunch, he sneaks into the alley behind Rusty Dragon. There, hidden from sight, he draws a diagram drawn on the ground with his dagger. He sits in the circle and concentrates, whispering the name of his fiend "K’Tok’Tath" and shedding a drop of his own blood - which disappears in mid air, consumed before it can hit the floor. After the ceremony is complete, he scuffs away the circle and rejoins the others.
"I almost thought the adventure was going to catch up with a few times too! Some close shaves to be had. But we're acquiring new friends to help us along! Meet Dora!" Idun introduces Dora, heedless of whether perhaps they already know each other.
--
While Khamul barters for power, Idun mixes up some warpaints after she's cleared away her plates.
”I’m glad you at least made it back safe and it;s a pleasure to meet you Dora. I think Grenz might have something else to do though,” she indicates him attempting to leave the inn looking at some sort of paper in his hand and shaking his head. ”Still, better eat up so you can get back to it. Desna knows there’s more adventure out there.” Bethana looks almost wistful.
Moonday, 21 Lamashan 4707, 3:48pm. 33 degrees, Light Breeze, Partly Cloudy. Town Hall Waiting Area.
The town hall is fairly busy today, as Moonday seems to be the day that people need to get charters signed and documents authorized. After waiting for over an hour, watching people come and go, some who seemed to be able to skip the line with a flash of coin, you are eventually called to the counter. ”Froghoth and company? This way please.”
When you approach the clerk they ask, ”What can we do for you today?”
"I almost thought the adventure was going to catch up with a few times too! Some close shaves to be had. But we're acquiring new friends to help us along! Meet Dora!" Idun introduces Dora, heedless of whether perhaps they already know each other.
Dora says hi and chats a little bit but she’s really eager to get going.
“It was nice … but adventure awaits!“
...
Moonday, 21 Lamashan 4707, 3:48pm. 33 degrees, Light Breeze, Partly Cloudy. Town Hall Waiting Area.The town hall is fairly busy today, as Moonday seems to be the day that people need to get charters signed and documents authorized. After waiting for over an hour, watching people come and go, some who seemed to be able to skip the line with a flash of coin, you are eventually called to the counter. ”Froghoth and company? This way please.”
When you approach the clerk they ask, ”What can we do for you today?”
Moonday, 21 Lamashan 4707, 2:12pm
Having finished his seance, Khamul rejoins the others, and says "Ok, there are things we need to do here to get on the road. So let's split up. Dora, can you do the shopping? You'll have to go see Podiker, the alchemist. We need some sort of alchemical mold killer that won't burn down a building - an alkali or defoliant or something - a bunch of it. A couple of sunrods wouldn't hurt, as would a flask or two of alchemists fire. Watch out though, he's a greedy little so and so. From the general store, a barrel of lamp oil, about 100 sling bullets, 100' of rope, a grappling hook." He hands her a little pouch of platinum pieces (that we found in Foxglove Manor).
Then he turns to Idun "Can you go talk to Father Zanthus about the hauntings we've experienced and if he's got something to put them down. Also, get some holy water and holy weapon balm if you can."
"I'll go talk to the clerk at town hall and find out about the legal holdings on the manor. We meet back here after we've finished. If you go off to do something else, leave a message with Bethana, OK?"
Khamul hops on his hound and heads off to the Town hall. Posting his hound outside, he heads into the clerks office, and shakes his head at the line...
Moonday, 21 Lamashan 4707, 2:31pm
Seeing people skipping the line with flash of coin, he decides he's important too, and walks up to the front, while digging out the Mayor's laissez-passer for Sandpoint's bureaucracy. He waves it around, while cutting to the front of the line, "Sorry folks, deadly business, I need to cut in..."
2 ranks +3 trained +1 Cha+1 Trait +2 spirit bonus
He speaks to the clerk: "Duck into the backroom, this ain't for public consumption"
After he and the clerk have got a little privacy, he continues "Ok, we've found out for certain that Foxglove Manor is haunted by evil, and is a source of some of the problems that have been plaguing the town. It's been proposed we could solve this with a little creative arson, but Belor wants a check on who has legal holdings on the place because he's concerned about noble retribution from Magnimar. So you need to dig into the records and tell me who has interest in the property. Because we'd like to have that fire ASAP, like tonight, you need to get on this ..."
Dora nods and says. “Yes, yes … “ when they are trying to cut to the front of the line.
Idun splits up with Dora and Khamul to speak with Father Zanthus about what to do about the hauntings.
"Who would inherit the property if Aldern Foxglove was dead? Would it be forfeit to the town of Sandpoint?"
"I assume that there is some paperwork required for a condemning order. Whatever it is, please prepare it for Mayor Deverin and Sheriff Belor to sign off on, as soon as possible. Thank you, and now we need to get a move on. We need to talk to Gandethus ... "
Unless the clerk has something more to add, Khamul is off, trying to find Gandethus, to follow up about previous questions, and ask him a new one about the stained glass window.
Dora remains silent and observes the conversation that Khamul has with the clerk.
She then follows him to find Gandethus.
"So who is this Gandethus, if I may ask?" she says to the halfling.
"Gandethus is a mage, teaches at the Turandurok Academy. I doubt he's first water, but he's probably the best in town. The other folks to ask about the strange and the weird are Cai, the necromancer we captured, and Brodert Quink, who's either a sage and a historian or a conspiracy theorist. Depends who you ask."
Dora raises an eyebrow.
"Wow, you really know this town well. So Khamul, tell me a little bit about yourself. What brought you here?" she asks.
"Wouldn't say I know the town. I just pay attention to who Belor brings in as a specialist when people ask about strange things. I rushed up to town from Galduria when we heard the rumors of the great goblin raid. I figured I'd get to collect some ears of my own. Hasn't worked out that way, but I think we're doing some good. How's about you, why are you here?"
Then, Caprice returns to where Khamul said to meet.
Dora nods at the halfling.
”Thanks for the information Khamul! Hmm … me ... I’m here because I am looking for clues about my deceased mother. She left Sandpoint around 30 years ago but to be honest I don’t know much about her. She was a half-elf named Coral Asal and died as a chelish slave when I was only 4 years old. So I have to start looking for people that knew her I think! Something has been pulling me here with memories of her!!“ Dora says a little concerned.
Moonday, 21 Lamashan 4707, 4:26pm. 32 degrees, Light Breeze, Partly Cloudy. Turandurok Academy
Approaching the only real school in Sandpoint is difficult this time of day, as suddenly hundreds of children of all ages and heritages rush out of the front doors and off to whatever mayhem children like to cause after school. An older man with voluminous robes approaches, seeing you come up to the doors. ”Ah, I presume you are here to pick my brain about something, Khamul?”
"That's right Maester. I was wondering what you'd figured out about some previous questions, and I have a spanking fresh new one for you... To review what I asked you about first of all, this Sihedron symbol, second, did you figure out what was Cai up to at the sanitarium, and third what was up with tattoos on the guards at the Sanitarium?? Once you've told me what you've figured out about those, I'll show you the new one..."
As he speaks that last bit, he pulls out the sketch he made of the stained glass windows, and waves it about a bit..."
Maester Gandethus’ face turns grave. ”You had better come inside, best not to speak of things out there.” He takes you in and locks the door behind him, then leading you to room with several candles lit and a long table with wooden chairs around it. After you settle in, he claps his hands and a tea service appears before you.
”That symbol is from long ago. Perhaps you may have heard of the old Thassilonian Empire that spanned most of the land? This symbol was originally supposed to represent the seven virtues of rulership: Charity, Generosity, Humility, Kindness, Love, Temperance and Zeal. Instead, as with all empires over time, corruption turned them into the seven vices: Lust, Wrath, Greed, Sloth, Pride, Gluttony and Envy. As to why this symbol is suddenly showing up thousands of years after the empire fell, I do not know, but I don’t think it is a good sign.”
”Your ‘friend’ was a necromancer. He was studying ways to animate the dead using a strange concoction made from the same flower the Pharasmins use in some of their rituals. Without questioning the man himself, I won’t be able to make sense of some of his writing, but it seems he was on to something.” It is hard to tell whether Gandethus is appalled or intrigued, but you guess both.
”As for the tattoos, they were also a part of Caizarlu’s research. Some sort of control rune that he stole from someone else’s research, but his notes don’t say who. “
He then takes the papers you have and glances at them. ”What you have here is the ingredients for a powerful potion. One that can kill a man in less than a breath. This particular one seems to be related to some notes I found in the necromancer’s journals. Something about removing the ties to the Boneyard of Pharasma.”
Finishing, he says, ”I don’t know what sort of trouble you’ve gotten yourselves into, but it doesn’t sound promising. Personally, I would steer clear and let the Sheriff sort it out, but I am going to assume that is not going to be the case. Cai’s research also mentioned a place in Magnimar. If you’re headed up that way, you may want to ask around.”
"Thank you Maester Gandethus. It sounds like I am going to have to have another conversation with Cai about exactly what he's been doing. Unfortunately, given we're the Sheriff's chosen tools to do the sorting out, I can't take your undoubtedly wise advice." He gestures at Dora, and continues " By the by, this is Dora, she's joined our merry little band. Dora, this is Maester Gandethus. Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of time to chat - we need to get back to the Rusty Dragon to meet up with Idun, who's been talking to Father Zanthus."
Unless someone has something else to add, Khamul is off to the Rusty Dragon...
Dora nods politely.
"It is great meeting you. Thank you for your assistance." Dora says to Maester Gandethus and she follows Khamul to the Rusty Dragon.
Moonday, 21 Lamashan 4707, 5:09pm. 31 degrees, Light Breeze, Partly Cloudy. The Rusty Dragon Common Room.
You file in to the main room of the Rusty Dragon, along with a crowd of others just getting off of a hard days work and readying for a hard night of drink. You spy Idun sitting at a table over in one corner, nursing a drink already.
Khamul hustles over to Idun and then asks (turning to address both Idun and Dora) "Ok, it's later than I thought it would be. Do we want to hustle back to Maester Grump's or are we going to overnight here in town. The beds are nicer here in the Rusty Dragon, and we won't be on the road until halfway to midnight if we stay here, but we'll be later getting to Foxglove Manor tomorrow if we don't get on the road. What do y'all figure? My vote is for the Rusty Dragon."
Dora nods, "Absolutely, Rusty Dragon makes sense dear Khamul!" she says smiling.