To myself: too many vowels...easy to write.
Say like...Azzakan? "I'd like to buy a vowel please Pat?"
As long a Vanna spins...
As long a Vanna spins...
UR killing me smalls!
Your father helped make me what I am today, a Paladin of Iomadae. He taught me, among other things, that I am worth something. I shall strive to live up to his expectations.
What language is he speaking in? Common or Orc?
Common.
Kendra-He was a man of many parts, and he was right-we are all worth something. The Inheritor certainly did her part when you joined the ranks of her holy warriors. Well it looks like be making extra sandwiches for sure. Why don't the four of you get to know each other a little better while I make them. Then we can talk about what rooms to put all of you in. I'm afraid I won't have a bed in the house that is worthy of you Uuranx.
She moves off to prepare a meal while the PCs stand about in the the parlor.
Tea anyone? How about you servant of the Lady of Valor? I would love to hear more about your meeting of the Professor. It sounds like it might be similar to my own.
Looking at Uuranx expectantly.
I find a nice defensible space to sleep in. As I walk away I detect magic between all of us.
I am parched. Thank you for the tea. I was on my own, my tribe didn't want me. I was a guard on a caravan, downtrodden and beaten. Professor Lorrimor was there with a paladin of Iomadae. They both talked to me as an equal, I was not expecting that. He and the paladin engaged me in conversation and began to teach me of my worth in the Lady's eyes. The caravan was attacked by bandits, I put myself in harms way saving the professor and, to my astonishment, the paladin of Iomadae sacrificed himself to save my pathetic life. Since that time, I have discovered Iomadae and have dedicated my life to her. Although the Professor, with that twinkle in his eye, told me that there was something else in store for me. He would never elaborate though. Whenever I asked him, he would just smile. He shall be missed.
Can I help you with something Randtam? I believe that Kendra indicated she will find a place to sleep in her house for each of us, and casting unannounced spells around those you've just barely met might be perceived as discourteous by some.
I am parched. Thank you for the tea. I was on my own, my tribe didn't want me. I was a guard on a caravan, downtrodden and beaten. Professor Lorrimor was there with a paladin of Iomadae. They both talked to me as an equal, I was not expecting that. He and the paladin engaged me in conversation and began to teach me of my worth in the Lady's eyes. The caravan was attacked by bandits, I put myself in harms way saving the professor and, to my astonishment, the paladin of Iomadae sacrificed himself to save my pathetic life. Since that time, I have discovered Iomadae and have dedicated my life to her. Although the Professor, with that twinkle in his eye, told me that there was something else in store for me. He would never elaborate though. Whenever I asked him, he would just smile. He shall be missed.
I also got to know the Professor under less than peaceful circumstances. I was exploring what I thought was an abandoned ruin, only to discover that the goblins living there were less than thrilled to have visitors. After a little disagreement, I found myself on the run and was fortunate enough to run into the Professor and his exploration group. That quickly turned the tables on my pursuers and during the ensuing melee I was able to prevent the tribe's shaman from charming the professor. We spent some time studying together after that in Caliphas, but that was many years ago before he met his wife and started his family. I haven't seen him since those days of study in the city but we kept in touch via the post.
To Alamin: I was as just checking. But still wondering. Not being discourteous, just being thorough like the Professor taught me.
"Listening to all your stories, it sounds as if the Professor led quite the life, I am saddened that I only met him just a few short weeks ago. Uuranx can use my bed it is certainly larger than I need, a small place on the floor will suit me well."
To Alamin: I was as just checking. But still wondering. Not being discourteous, just being thorough like the Professor taught me.
That's a fair point, but courtesy would still dictate you discuss it prior. Seeing as we don't know each other, why don't we all use whatever diviniation powers we have to feel a little more comfortable with each other. Taking Uuranx at his word, Iomadae should give him the power to tell if any of us are less honorable than our association with the Professor would suggest. The light of Sarenrae will show me the truth of things as well. Agreed by all?
To Alamin: I trusted the Professor completely, and now his daughter as well. I do not know anyone else here. But Lorrimer always told me about his wide assortment of acquaintances. I shall agree to your proposal.
To DM : what did I notice as I casted detect magic? Why was Alamin so touchy? Good to know there is another spell caster.
Did he spot all my magical weapons and armor?
To DM : what did I notice as I casted detect magic? Why was Alamin so touchy? Good to know there is another spell caster.
You detect no magic on the other 3 guests.
Why was Alamin so touchy? Ask her.
~detect magic~
I shall sense motive
I only detected Caldir's magics
Items.
I ask her. My awesome sense motive score will let me know if she tells the truth.
Randtam, you must have lived a sheltered life to this point, no? I would assume from your hands that you are a student or archivist and have little real world experience. Let me tell you, when people you have just met start waving their hands in arcane passes that's usually a good time to get edgy. The last thing you want is your new acquaintance blasting or charming you with some spell. I'll wait for Uuranx to give the final say, but you and Vraxel SEEM fine to me. However, I don't have a paladin's knack for sniffing out evil. Given that Vraxel has been staying in the Professor's home the last few weeks and is vouched for by Kendra it's a safe bet that he's not bent on doing anything particularly evil. Although his lack of memory is a little troubling. The real question is how do we determine if Uuranx is what he claims to be. No offense intended Uuranx, but surely you can see the conundrum and I can only imagine it's not the first time you've had to face these questions.
I ask her. My awesome sense motive score will let me know if she tells the truth.
You feel comfortable that Alamin is not attempting to deceive you.
Ha, no, this is not the first time my motives have been questioned. We can go to a church of Iomadae or any truth-telling that you want to give me will be fine. I have developed a lot of patience, thanks be to the Lady.
Uuranx, I propose to solve it thusly. Today we will take the honor of your word on any of us that Iomadae shows you to be evil or of ill intent. I will pray to The Everlight for the ability to cast detect evil tomorrow. That at least will satisfy me with regards to the base nature of my new acquaintances. What your true natures and intentions are will be revealed through your actions in the days to come, but if you were truly accepted by the Professor I know I will accept you as well. Agreed?
I ask Iomadae to sense evil in the people in the room...
"Alamin, Randtam, and Uuranx, you all obviously trusted and revered the Professor. It is just as obvious to me that he trusted, revered, and placed his faith in each of you, which is why he named each of you in his Will. Since the Professor trusted each of you and each of you trusted the Professor, shouldn't you all trust each other? The only one you should be wondering about is me, the Halfling with no memory that the professor just met."
I ask Iomadae to sense evil in the people in the room...
You don't sense any evil from the other 3 PCs.
"Alamin, Randtam, and Uuranx, you all obviously trusted and revered the Professor. It is just as obvious to me that he trusted, revered, and placed his faith in each of you, which is why he named each of you in his Will. Since the Professor trusted each of you and each of you trusted the Professor, shouldn't you all trust each other? The only one you should be wondering about is me, the Halfling with no memory that the professor just met."
Normally I would agree with you, but this is Ustalav. Who is to say that someone using the correct name and answering a summons is actually who they say they are. The Professor was involved with a great many things, and not all of them savory. I for one find it doubtful that he "accidentally" died. Very convenient, don't you think, that his head was so greatly crushed that the priests would be unable to use a speak with dead spell? Be that as it may Vraxel, I would usually be inclined to trust YOU least of all except for the fact that you stayed with the Professor these last few weeks. He would never let someone stay with his daughter that was of ill design, regardless of what they did or did not remember.
Turns and looks at Uuranx, Well, what does your goddess reveal?
There is no ill intent in this room.
Good enough for now. With your permission Uuranx I'll pray over you tomorrow to verify you are who you say you are.
A few minutes later Kendra comes out with sandwiches and another round of tea.
Unless there is any other activity for the day I'll fast forward to the funeral in a few days assuming that the party has verified that everyone is who they say they are.
Anything any of you want to do between now and the funeral (4 days)?
Nothing special for me the next 4 days.
Nothing for me
To DM: who investigated Lorrimers death? What evidence do they have that makes this an accidental death and not a homicide? I would like to look into this a little more on my own if no one wishes to join me.
To Alamin: have you talked with priests who examined the Professor's body?
After several days of getting to know each other, the day of the funeral arrives. Each of you was prepared to dress in the finest attire you brought, but Kendra asked that each of you wear what you did when the Professor first met you.
She leads you to the entrance of the Restlands (local cemetery maintained by priests of Pharasma) where the cart with the Professor's coffin awaits you along with a small handful of villagers. Old friends of Lorrimar, they too have come to pay their respects. As you approach, Kendra points out-Councilman Vashian Hearthmount, Councilman Gharen Muricar, taverkeeper Zokar Elkarid and his 13 year-old son Pevrin, and Jominda Fallenbridge (Ravengro's apothecary and one of her father's good friends.
As you approach the group Kendra quietly whispers Friends, will you do me and my father the honor of consenting to be pallbearers? You are the only folks not of the village that he reached out to and what's more, I don't trust the strength of the villagers that were willing to attend his funeral. It is traditional for the remaining family to lead a procession up the Dreamwake and to the grave. Pallbearers represent the love the deceased experienced in life. It is a sad day to have a coffin brought in drawn by horse.
To DM: who investigated Lorrimers death? What evidence do they have that makes this an accidental death and not a homicide? I would like to look into this a little more on my own if no one wishes to join me.
To Alamin: have you talked with priests who examined the Professor's body?
~before the funeral~
After talking to Kendra the next day you find that no one investigated the death. They found the body, skull crushed by fallend gargoyle rock, and assumed that gravity and decay were the culprits.
Kendra-There hasn't been a murder in Ravengrow as long as I've lived here. I can't imagine that anyone in the town would want to kill my father, even if most were not fond of his studies and investigations. I myself went to the ruins of Harrowstone and could not detect anything amiss there, although I make no great claims to power as a diviner. If you want to investigate further, you may, but few will be willing to talk to you until my father's body has been buried. It's considered bad luck.
To DM: who investigated Lorrimers death? What evidence do they have that makes this an accidental death and not a homicide? I would like to look into this a little more on my own if no one wishes to join me.
To Alamin: have you talked with priests who examined the Professor's body?
~before the funeral~
I have not Randtam, but I agree with you we should as soon as we have the ceremony for the professor. He was an incredibly careful man and took great precautions given the nature of his research. Knowing first hand the dangers he has survived I find it difficult to imagine he was laid low by a piece of random rock.
"Sounds like a plan, we will investigate after the ceremony, count me in."
After several days of getting to know each other, the day of the funeral arrives. Each of you was prepared to dress in the finest attire you brought, but Kendra asked that each of you wear what you did when the Professor first met you.
She leads you to the entrance of the Restlands (local cemetery maintained by priests of Pharasma) where the cart with the Professor's coffin awaits you along with a small handful of villagers. Old friends of Lorrimar, they too have come to pay their respects. As you approach, Kendra points out-Councilman Vashian Hearthmount, Councilman Gharen Muricar, taverkeeper Zokar Elkarid and his 13 year-old son Pevrin, and Jominda Fallenbridge (Ravengro's apothecary and one of her father's good friends.
As you approach the group Kendra quietly whispers Friends, will you do me and my father the honor of consenting to be pallbearers? You are the only folks not of the village that he reached out to and what's more, I don't trust the strength of the villagers that were willing to attend his funeral. It is traditional for the remaining family to lead a procession up the Dreamwake and to the grave. Pallbearers represent the love the deceased experienced in life. It is a sad day to have a coffin brought in drawn by horse.
Your move...
I would be honored.
I would be honored to be a pallbearer.
If a 3 foot tall halfling can be a pallbearer then yes.
It would be my honor.
Kendra-Thank you my friends. You have made my grief less than it otherwise would have been and I can never thank you enough for that. Heavens bless my father that he knew such fine folk.
You approach the assembled group and Kendra introduces you to those townfolk you had not already met. Lifting the coffin off of the wagon flat, three of you carry it at your waist so Vraxel can carry the fourth corner. Each PC uses two hands to suppor the coffin.
After making sure you are ready, Kendra enters the gates of the Restlands, beckoning for you to follow.
As you enter, you feel the hallowed stillness of this Pharasmatic cemetery. Neatly tended and maintained, you know you have entered the realm of the Lady of Graves.
As the procession rounds a corner several hundred feet into the Restlands, you can see that the way ahead is blocked by a group of a dozen or so surly looking townsfold. Noticing you, an elderly but wiry man with a military air about him steps forward and speaks (let me know if you want to interrupt at any point):
That's far enough. We been talking, and we don't want Lorrimor buried in the Restlands. You can take him upriver and bury him there if you want, but he ain't goin' in the ground here!
Kendra is swift to respond, her sadness swiftly transforming into anger, What are you talking about? I arranged it with Father Grimburrow. He's waiting for us! The grave's already been...
The man savagely cuts her off, You don't get it woman. We won't have a necromancer in the same place as our kin. I suggest you move out while you still can. Folks are pretty upset about this right now.
A look of scorn and disdain crosses Kendra's face, Necromancy? Are you really THAT ignorant?
"Well sir, it is your town so you should have a say in the matter. I came here to bury my friend, and that is what I would like to do, but if you prefer we can bury you here today instead, what do you say?"
Man, wish he'd say that when I wasn't holding a coffin with both hands.
Whispered to my companions:
"We can easily set the coffin down Uuranx. And in case you think I am bluffing, I'm not, if he doesn't back down, I will happily gut him like a fish and leave his corpse to rot. I can't remember much of my past, but I do know that I am River Rat, and that comes along with a bit of a mean streak, especially towards ignorant bullies."
that was not bold so not said out loud, kinda humorous thinking...
that was not bold so not said out loud, kinda humorous thinking...
I'm laughing!