This time, Imperia's rapier finds its mark. It skewers the centipede through its mouth, and it dies instantly.
Lord Bramwell turns around and swings the scythe against the remaining centipede.
Lord Bramwell's scythe skips off the top of the sarcophagus with a *CLANG*.
Round 3
Jayla attacks the centipede with her Changeling claws.
and then takes a 5 ft step back (diagonally).
Jayla's claws rake along the centipede's head and draw blood. It hisses and recoils from her second swing, but not far enough--her second swipe is enough to put it down.
Khardan recovers from his wild attack in time to see Jayla rend the huge bug. He raises an appreciative eyebrow. "Well alright, Little Sister. I didn't know you had that in you."
Jayla removed a kerchief from her pack and wiped the blood from the talons of both hands. Upon Khardan's words, the Changeling gave an appreciative smile before declaring, "Mistress Imperia did a fine job of ending the life of the other."
"Yeah, but I knew she could. You have hidden talents. I'll remember that."
She smiled again at his words although she was unsure of his earlier assumption of her abilities and strengths.
As the party collected themselves after the fight, Jayla turned serious and motioned for Khardan to draw closer.
"Let me examine your bite wound."
When the little witch was satisfied of there being no chance of infection setting in from the bite, she laid her hand on Khardan's wounds and released some of her arcane magic into him in order to heal her friend.
"There, least your outwardly wounds are mended whole."
Lord Bramwell puts away the scythe. "Ah. A clumsy fool, I am. Not used to hunting these vermin, they make for a poor dinner," the dhampir complains, shaking his head. He then turns his attention back to the coffin, and attempts to open it.
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The sarcophagus lid slides aside easily.
The interior of the sarcophagus is bereft of an occupant, but not of valuables. A dozen silver arrows, four sunrods, six flasks of holy water, ten arrows tipped with gold, a pair of arrows with onyx-coloured shafts, and a variety of potions and scrolls; 5 light blue potions and 2 orange potions, and about 4 scrolls in total. Buried underneath the stash is a thin darkwood case decorated with an image of a scarab with a single eye glaring from its back--it appears to be identical to the manual of the order of the Palantine Eye in the Professor's collection of books.
Carefully examining the items from the sarcophagus, Jayla identified all but the pair of onyx arrows and quietly relayed the information to the others.
Looking to her Half-Orc companion and friend, she quietly added.
"Khardan, you may find some relief by imbibing an orange potion - the lesser restoration - to remedy the effects of the poison on your body from the centipede's bite."
"I too was surprised by your skills Jayla. I didn't expect a witch to have claws. I'm glad to know I don't have to worry much if you are caught in melee."
Imperia studies the Onyx arrows, and has no idea what they might be. She turns her attention to the darkwood case. She casts detect magic on it, and checks to see if it's locked.
"I too was surprised by your skills Jayla. I didn't expect a witch to have claws. I'm glad to know I don't have to worry much if you are caught in melee."
After her words to Khardan, Jayla turned to look at the librarian and inclined her head respectfully, "Thank you, Mistress Imperia. My talons are not common among all witches. They are a physical boon granted to my kind."
Bramwell loses himself in thought, listening to Khardan and Imperia praise Jayla. "Hmm. Yes, yes. Judge not a book by its cover, is it not what librarians say, Imperia? I've heard it somewhere. Me... all I ever expect from people is to be surprised. Everyone is full of it, but only ever so often, and not always in a good way..." He smiles awkwardly and steps forward in Jayla's direction. "Your surprise was good, though!", he says. Upon noticing that his proximity makes Jayla's bird nervous, his face changes back to a distant, almost sad, expression, and Bramwell recoils, stepping back. He picks up the onyx arrows and sniffs their tips.
The dhampir feels a foul smell fill up his nostrils, as the arcane magic that powers these arrows against undead touches his vampire-tainted soul for a moment. With a grimace, he says "Undead bane. Any of you can fire a bow?"
"I have a bow. I'm fair at using it. It's not my first choice of weapon. Damaging foes before they reach us is a good strategy."
"I think we're all misfits, frequently misjudged."
At Jayla's suggestion, Khardan uncorks and swallows the bitter orange potion.
Imperia steps away from the group just in case, and opens the box to see what's inside. "Let's see what we have here."
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The case's interior is lined with black silk and contains what appears to be some sort of spirit board and brass planchette, as well as four vials made of iron & glass that contain tiny, churning clouds of vapour. The four vials sit in six velvet-lined indentations next to the spirit board. Two of the indentations are empty.
A brass spirit planchette only allows one question to be asked before its magic is exhausted for the day.
"Look at this. Interesting." she murmurs. "These vials are Haunt Siphons. They'll be very useful in a haunted prison, and this is a brass spirit planchette. We can ask one question of the dead a day with it. I think we should take these will us as well."
Bramwell nods, listening to Imperia. "Good, good. Now we can talk to the Professor, then. What question should we ask?"
"About what he was investigating when he was killed?" offers Khardan.
Lirin had nestled deeper within her hood at Bramwell's approach and the Changeling tried to reassure the Dhampir that no harm had been done when she noted his troubled expression. With a gentle smile, Jayla reassured him, "She is just skittish. In time, she may grow accustomed to you, Lord Bramwell."
As to question of who would best carry the pair of Undead Bane arrows, Jayla was happy enough for Imperia to have them as she herself only carried a light crossbow and sling and certainly had no experience with a bow. "I do not know how to use a shortbow, so I agree it is best for Mistress Imperia to have said arrows."
Jayla eyed the case and its contents in Imperia's arms as the librarian identified the contents.
At Lord Bramwell's question and after Khardan's suggestion, Jayla added her own,
"And who really killed him. Perhaps the gargoyle statue was pushed down upon him and he saw the culprit."
"I think those are both excellent questions. Should we attempt this at the Lorrimor home instead of inside a crypt we're currently not supposed to be in?"
She stores the items away, and begins to leave the crypt to return to the Lorrimor home.
Jayla responded quietly, "I am good to return to the house, now, too. Let us close the coffin and place the lock as it was."
Jayla stored the healing potions in her pack (5 CLW and 1 Lesser Restoration) and collected the rest of the items (gold-tip arrows and scrolls - ). and began following Imperia out of the crypt, looking about to ensure they would not be followed or noticed.
"Let's save the potion for when its really needed," Khardan says. "I'll be fine in a few days."
After putting the sarcophagus' lid back on, the party departs from the crypt and begins the long walk back into town. The Restlands are still as quiet as before as they leave... such a silence feels unnatural to those attuned to nature.
The dirt road back into Ravengro is quiet and mostly empty until the party reaches the bridge into town. However, as they approach the town square, they see a man dressed in leather armour and carrying a truncheon & torch walking up to the bridge. He stops when he sees the party approaching.
"You there--what are the four of you doing out and about at this time of night? All the decent folk are asleep at this hour!"
Imperia is outraged that this man would challenge them. How dare he think we aren't decent folk. She holds the lantern up to make sure her face is illuminated. Standing at her full height she glares at the man.
"Who are you to question me about what we are doing? If you absolutely must have an explanation, I felt the need to get some fresh air. I'm having trouble sleeping. I feel as though I am still moving on the coach from Lepidstadt, and just cannot settle down. My associates wouldn't let me go out alone this evening. That's a good thing. Since I've been accosted in the streets."
The man swallows nervously. "Um, well... ma'am, I'm just doing my job. Night watchman and all. Didn't mean to imply you're up to something or anything like that."
"Er... you should hurry home. It's not safe out here at night."
"Thank you." she nods imperiously, and walks off toward the house.
"Thank you, good sir. We shall heed your counsel and wish you a safe night watch," attempting to smooth any tension between the night watchman and the party; hoping no word of their movement would go back to the Councillors.
And then steadily followed behind Imperia in the direction of the manor house.
The door to the Lorrimor home is open when the party returns. The smell of freshly-cooked chicken is coming from the kitchen beyond.
Kendra peeks her head out from the entranceway to the kitchen. "Oh--you're back!" She smiles. "And just in time, too--I made some chicken stew."
Bramwell sniffs the air, catching the scent of the stew. "Ah, yes, it smells delicious. We can all have some after we talk to the Professor," he says abruptly, without taking the time to explain the situation to Kendra. He clears the table and sits in one of the chairs. "Miss Imperia, you have the spirit board, right? How does it work?"
Imperia pulls it from the case, and shows it to Lord Bramwell.
"A brass spirit planchette only allows one question to be asked before its magic is exhausted for the day. Whomever asks the question is going to be very confused afterwards, and there's a slight chance of temporary possession.
Perhaps we should have dinner first. We need to let Miss Kendra know what we've learned. Then we can decide on the question to ask the Professor, and whom should ask it. If we do this tonight, we won't be able to use it again until tomorrow night. Were we going to Harrowstone tomorrow or doing more research?"
"Er--spirit planchette? Pardon me?" Kendra looks back around the kitchen entryway, carrying a pot of delicious-smelling stew. She starts ladling out portions as the others converse.
"Good eve, Mistress Kendra, " she greeted the lady of the house. The prospect of the chicken stew was on Jayla's mind as Bramwell and Imperia began discussing the spirit planchette and the disorienting effect on the questioner.
"If we do this tonight, we won't be able to use it again until tomorrow night. Were we going to Harrowstone tomorrow or doing more research?"
"If we explore Harrowstone tomorrow eve, then we will have time for additional research in the morning," Jayla responded, uncertain of her companions' thoughts on the matter.
Jayla drew back the hood of her cloak and Lirin hopped out from under her hair to settle on her usual perch - Jayla's shoulder. Sitting down at the dining table, the Changeling watched as Kendra served each of them a bowl of the fragrant stew and asked for explanation regarding the spirit planchette. Jayla thought Imperia best explain the device to the late professor's daughter.
"Miss Kendra, Miss Imperia tells us that this planchette allows us to speak with the dead. Thus, we have decided to ask your late father some questions. Yes, him directly. And one at a time." Bramwell crosses his hands and lets them rest at the edge of the table, waiting for a hot plate of chicken stew to be placed before him.
"The people here don't like us walking at night, yes? So perhaps it's better to visit Harrowstone in the day, and they won't bother us." Bramwell makes a grimace, remembering the encounter with the night watchman. "Me, I've had it with the books. I'd rather go to the prison first thing in the morning and see it with my own eyes."
Kendra finishes dishing up chicken stew for everyone and sits down at the dinner table. "Oh..." She looks down at her bowl with a somber expression before she starts eating.
Initially oblivious to Kendra's feelings, Bramwell seems to notice the faux pas once he looks at Kendra eating. He tries to comfort her. "Or maybe you want to talk to him first? We can wait, I think."
Addressing Lord Bramwell, "Yet, in broad daylight, they may see us and still be disturbed by our presence. They are a suspicious lot. I will concede to the majority on the matter."
Noting Kendra's expression, Jayla attempted to console her. "Is something amiss, Mistress Kendra? Would you rather we did not try to speak with your late father, if it will cause you further pain?"
Kendra purses her lips and gives Jayla an appreciative look. "Thank you."
"I would personally let Father rest in peace, but, if you wish to ask him something..." She sighs. "I won't object. I wish to see his murderers brought to justice as much as you."
"Day, night, it's all the same to me," says Khardan. "But is it the same to whatever lives in Harrowstone, I wonder?"
"Let's wait to ask the Professor anything until we absolutely have no other options to get the information. The planchette allows us to ask one question a day of the dead." she eats her stew neatly.
"I would think going at night would allow the ghosts more power. They might be weaker during the daylight hours. That's just speculation of course. What do you all think?"
As to the power of ghosts at night in contrast to the day, Jayla silently contemplated any readings or lectures she had attended on such matters in order to determine the validity of the conjecture.
"Ghosts are as different as living and breathing beings - Some possess power at night, others during the day and there are even some who are little affected by the time of day. We do not know which kind we will encounter, so morning is acceptable if you think it is best," Jayla quietly smiled and nodded at Imperia.
"It seems daytime is the current preference. I wouldn't mind going before dark myself. It will be less likely I have to worry about a light source. I'm going to be an encumbrance with my lack of special vision, I'm afraid."
She nods in thanks at Jayla, "That's good information about the ghosts. I'll tuck it away for future reference."
"So let's go," says Khardan ever impatient of discussion or deliberation.
"Go?," confused, Jayla enquired of the Half-orc as she ladled another spoonful of the delicious stew. "It is evening now, my friend, and we have yet to use the spirit planchette. We will finalise our plans this night, get some rest and then head out to Harrowstone in the morning," she smiled and delicately ate some more of the chicken stew.