There are stories of old artifacts having special meaning to the spirits of those who owned them and stories about how they were sometimes used as weapons but as to how to use this lot, you are not sure.
Some other means inquiry may yield information.
Father Grimburrow prepares the brief ritual with an ease born of years of practice. He kneels and prayers then asks his question.
Oh Lady of the Graves and Judger of the Dead, I believe these items were once possessed by the spirits of those who haunt Harrowstone prison in life and specifically those who were once known as The Lopper, The Mosswater Marauder, The Splatterman, Father Charlatan and The Piper of Illmarsh. If this assumption would bring us benefit then make this known unto me.
After a contemplative moment he rises from floor stiffly.
The answer is 'Yes' - they belonged to these prisoners - that they can be useful to you seems evident to me as well but the method... the way they can be used? I cannot say.
There is a knock at the door and the senior acolyte enters at Father Grimburrows invitation. There is a whispered consultation and the old priest looks both saddened and tired. He bows his head silently and prays then dismisses the Acolyte with a nod.
Best you leave now... The Sheriff is waiting outside and has some news for you. All I will say now, is that I am sorry for your loss. First Lorrimor, and now this... go, go now, he sighs passing a weary hand over his eyes.
That cowardly b%&#& better not have... Baradlon thinks, storming out of the temple to hear the Sheriff's news. "Sheriff. You need to inform us of something?" he asks the man.
Lament bows her head mournfully. This can only mean one thing. Normally the young bard would have been ready and able to handle the bad news, but not after the restless night of sleep she just had. "We shouldn't have let her leave."
Lament follows the others to receive the news.
The sheriff doesn't say a word apart from, Best I take you to see quietly - things are bad enough as is - I don't want it to get worse.
He shakes his head at further inquiries... there are still a few people, less now to be sure but they are still moving about the town in the mist.
He leads you down towards the Lorrimor house and your feelings of dread grow and then turn to confusion. He leads you past it... and down towards the monument.
Simeon taps his foot impatiently as he waits for the Sheriff to lead them on to whatever the priest's cryptic statement meant, his head filled with the possibilities of what the augury portended.
Did the items hold some power over the haunts? Did removing the items from the prison weaken the ghosts? Questions Questions, and now this mystery!
In his preoccupation, Simeon does not even notice the looks of distress that pass over Lament and Elidal's faces as they follow the Sheriff.
Lament looks ahead of the group towards the monument, straining to see what has transpired.
"More letters? Another sacrifice?" Jaru mutters uncertainly.
Trestleblade looms out of the mist.
Errr... we din' walk around it much, knowin' how much you want tracks clear an' all, he mutters.
You push past him and see a figure, legs sprawled out at an old angle, in a leaning sit against the plinth.
It's Vigilance.
His throat has been cut open to the spine, his head against the stone of the monument with blood staining his chest red-black in the pale flickering torchlight.
"Damnit!" Lament jogs over and looks over his corpse. "We need to make them pay for this!" She turns to the group with fury in her eyes.
Jaru just looks numb as he traces the spiral. "Nighteyes will want to look for tracks. I would like to give him the final rites." Jaru looks for anything amiss as he lays the body out in a more natural resting position.
Baradlon hisses at the sight. He joins Lament, checking over the statue for any more writing with the blood. If he doesn't see anything, he starts to look for tracks in the area.
Trestleblade looks sad as he starts mumbling at Elidal.
Jus doin' my patrol - I foun' 'im like this not long after the bells rung. I got the Sheriff an' the rest... well. He stops awkwardly then says But I dint touch nothin' - so maybe you can find sumthin', right?.
The monument bears not one but two large bloody letters. 'S' and 'O'. In smaller writing at the bottom of the names of the guards who died in the Harrowstone fire is written 'Vigilance', also in blood.
Jaru notes that whatever cut him was razor sharp. At a glance, Nighteyes concurs. . Jaru is unable to gauge the time of death. He figures within the hour but its the best he can guess - the damp fog may have lowered the Teiflings body temperature or interfered with the congealing of his blood so there is some margin for error.
He starts searching the area and finds signs of a fight. Vigilance came from out of hiding... encountered someone... and in the fight got his throat cut open. On the ground he spies the Investigators rapier - its tip stained with blood. Its recent but like Jaru he is unable to tell how recent - an hour give or take. The pool of blood on the ground and a bloody trail leading to Vigilances current position seem to indicate he was killed a few feet from the monument from a single vicious cut and then dragged to where he now lays.
Baradlon begins the long and laborious process of searching for traces of the assailant with a fine toothed comb.
Lament goes into action to assist the elf.
Nighteyes goes to work, tracing every movement, every object with Lament doing a sweep and then another sweep of the area... Then he spy's a familiar boot print - one he tracked not so long ago. Then another and a spot of blood.
Gibbs.
While the sheriffs desire for clean evidence slowed things down before, the print itself, the length of stride, the height and power of the cut that ended his companions life, the strength needed to drag the corpse from its place of death to wear it lays now in a pair of smooth movements, Hells - even the writing on the monument made with a pair of thick fingers... In his heart he knows it could be no other.
Simeon followed the Sherrif to the monument, arms wrapped about his thin chest against the chill.
Arriving, he crouches about 15 feet from where Vigilance lay, his neck laid open like a crimson smile. Rubbing his face with the palm of one hand, Simeon gazes at his former research partner, and dare he say , friend.
He remains crouched, watching as Nighteyes prowls about the monument like an elven bloodhound, Simeon amazes even himself that the first thing the pops into his head is how much more difficult his research will now be, that Vigilance's assistance can no longer be counted on.
While the others conduct their investigation, Father Toth takes solace in ritual. He sits in prayer some while renewing the spells granted him and then turns to his duty. With a practiced hand he washes away what blood he can with water summoned for the task. Passing his skane over the corpse he says a few words ending with a pass over the stomach, "Once your cord was cut as you entered this mortal realm. Now I cut the cord again as you enter the eternal realm. Pharasma awaits you in the Boneyard. Make your way swiftly and be judged. Do not look back, but be satisfied in your fate." He ends by making the sign of Pharasma over his chest.
After finishing, he mentions distractedly, "In my land, it is tradition to sit a night with the body to make sure it is not disturbed whether by jackals or darker things. I do not know what the local traditions are, but I trust Father Grimburrow will do what is right."
Nighteyes hisses angrily. "That f@*$er...." The elf whips his sword from its sheathe, and without another word stalks off into the night towards Gibb's shack. That good for nothing m%&#$* f@$%** better have a good explanation for this. Otherwise I'll break every bone in his worthless, drunken body.
What is the Elf's meaning?, Sheriff Caeller asks the rest of you as you as the elf stalks off.
"It appears he found some incriminating evidence," Jaru deadpans. "Hold up Nighteyes, the proper authorities must oversee this."
What? Gibbs? How?, the Sheriff stammers.
Trestleblade? Get Vester! Hey Elf, wait up!.
Lament responds to the Sheriff as she prepares to follow after Nighteyes. "It's his boot. We have been blind all along. Only he is strong enough to make this knife cut and drag the body. Only his fingers are thick enough to do this writting!" She starts jogging away. "Hurry. Come on."
Simeon stands as Nighteyes plunges off into the night.
Hurrying to catch up with the others trying to catch up with Nighteyes, Simeon catches Lament's comment, at the same time his eye catches the two letters inscribed upon the monument: "S" and "O".
His pace slows a bit and his face scruches up in thought, "'V','E','S','O'....vesoteranian, vesospan, vesodunn. Vesorianna! Vesorianna! "
Certain of his conclusion, Simeon hurries to catch up.
Nighteyes stalks through the night and out of sight of friends and constabulary. He has a chance to slip off into the mist. That said you have darkvision and not low light visibility and running through the mist would not be a great idea.
The rest of you can find your way through the mist and town easily enough but visibility is crap and slows your movement
Nighteyes goes directly to Gibb's house. Once there, he pounds on the door.
The rest of the party, with Sheriff Caeller and Trestleblade catch up to the Elf as he pounds on the door of the towns Ne'er do Well.
But there is no response.
"Careful Nighteyes, only seek to subdue him. We have already seen an innocent man possessed by the Piper. I hardly think Gibbs is innocent, but I would not be surprised if another haunt is behind this."
"Nighteyes move. Sheriff?" She holds up her new thieve's tools. As the others look at her strangely, "Well...there was a time I had to do what I could to eat." If the sheriff doesn't object, she checks the door for danger/locks and then picks it. "Gibbs is either guilty or in danger."
Nighteyes tries the door, letting Lament open it if it's locked. "Gibbs, if you're in there we're coming in!"
Lament gets to work with her picks and the simple lock clicks as it unlocks. She pushes it open with a shove... and Gibbs rushes out the door at her - slashing at her with an overly sized straight razor.
I tole you, I'd be havin' you, you little whore!
War Razor
Damage
Initiatives Round 1.
Nighteyes
Lament
Elidal
Simon
Jaru
Gibbs
Confirm the crit?
War Razor
Damage
Lament gets the razor across the face, slicing open her cheek and her forehead to the very bones of her skull!
I think we can theatre of the mind this.
Party
Gibbs
- Sheriff will go last with his deputy.
He is now in the door way of his home It allows for three people to attack him with Melee non reach weapons.
"Sorry sheriff, the bastard's gone too far this time," Nighteyes says. He drops into a combat stance and lashes out at Gibbs with his curved blade, making no effort to pull the blow.
Its a vicious cut but the man throws himself against the door jam - avoiding what would have been a lethal blow.
Heh, Gibbs exhales in amused pain.
Seeing what Gibbs did to Lament, Simeon sighs Well, there's nothing more to do....
Not willing to get within reach of that razor, Simeon reaches out with a clawed hand and shouts at Gibbs.
"Gibbs, or whatever possesses thee, your doom is upon you!"
Gibbs sneers at the mage but its a wan and pale sneer .
Jaru gasps at the fury with which Lament is attacked and clear of the melee, tends to her wounds with a healing touch.
Lament reaches up and wipes blood from her face. The gash is deep and barely missed her jugular artery. The pain decreases as Jaru touches her her with the blessing of Pharasma.
Lament stumbles back (5ft step) and pulls her whip. She attempts to distract Gibbs so Nighteyes can stop him.
[ooc]+4 to Nighteyes' next attack![/dice]
Elidals attempt to to disarm Gibbs puts her in harms way and he lashes out at the Changeling.
Gibbs
Damage
His attempt misses.
In her mind Lament is convinced that the weapon that he is using is very likely the one that not only did for Vigilance but also Old River too.
Still shaken from the Wizards charm, Gibbs attempts to cut down the elf.
I'll be wearin' yer ears, yer wick bastard.
Gibbs
Damage
Nighteyes sways back to avoid the cut at his neck.
Finally Sheriff Caeller raises his ever present crossbow to his shoulder and shoots.
Crossbow .
Damage
The bolt slams into the door frame near Gibbs head, an impressive shot. Wooden shards fly around the mans face as it splinters.
Trestleblade closes, heavy club in hand. The town deputy pulls not his blow - he is trying to take down this man, hard. You'll not hurt her you prick!, he snarls.
Club .
Damage
He swings at Gibbs head and then skillfully reverses the blow and slams the club into the town bully's gut - winding him. It seems the ex-solder is made of stern stuff because he is still upright.
Round 2.
Baradlon laughs madly at the minor nick Gibbs gives him. "Try this on for size you pig f+~$er!" he sneers, slashing out snickety-snack at the murdering bully again.
Jaru holds his breath waiting to see the results of the deadly melee.