"Ah yes. The... what did father call you- ah yes. Skinwalkers. Werewolf-kin, specifically. He told me of his encounter with you. Afterwords he spent a considerable amount of time researching your kind. Most common folk are scared witless of your kind, but father wanted to bring to light your true nature, so that others could see that you are not unlike the rest of us. He thought any enlightenment he could bring to others would be repayment for you coming to his aid on that day. Unfortunately his works on the subject were not popular. Lepidstadt University is still stuck in the past in some ways. I digress. He thought very much of that single act, Utho." When she finishes speaking, she refreshes her throat with another drink of wine. "I'm afraid I didn't put it together until just now. Who you are, that is."
Kendra is a thin woman of medium height. Her hair is brown and pulled backwards into a messy bun, with strands of hair falling on the sides of her face. Her skin is fair and she has striking grey eyes. Her cheekbones are well defined as is her jaw line. Her figure is pleasant and obscured slightly by a long black dress with an elaborate floral bodice going high up her neck. A few gold necklaces dangle on her covered chest and the shoulders of the dress are artificially round. The long dress sleeves reach down to fair, long, well manicured hands, tipped with purple nail polish.
Ezra hesitantly pulls back her black veil, revealing a beautifully carved wooden mask. Carefully untying the white ribbons that hold the piece in place, she removes the covering with shaking hands. Beneath the mask, the right side of her face is horribly scarred her right ear is almost entirely removed, apparently torn from the side of her head. In addition, her face, especially her nose and jaw, are notably deformed. Almost like s skinwalker caught halfway though his transformation from beast shape into human, or vice versa.
Attempting to keep her voice at a constant level, the gnome explains, "I am deaf, and it pains me to speak. I cannot hear the volume of my voice, so forgive if I am imperceptible or overly loud. I too was working with the professor . . . on a cure for lycanthropy. My ambitiousness far outstripped my ability; it is my shame that my ignorance almost cost us both our lives. So now I hide behind this wooden face." The gnome taps the mask now sitting on the table in front of her, "I was able to halt the effects on myself, but I paid dearly for it. That which I did cannot be undone. I owe the professor more than I can repay. Regardless of request, I am humbled by a chance to repay some of my debt, and honored to assist however I may."
Having finished her halting speech, the gnome carefully reaffixes the mask to her face and lowers her black veil.
Cassiel looks up from his book at Ezra. His eyes widen as he looks at her face before he listens to what she has to say.
...wow. So the cure she was working on figuratively & literally exploded in her face. I wonder why Petros never spoke of this...
"...I appreciate your candor, Ezra." His eyes soften as he speaks. Cassiel appears to be searching for words, but finding none, settles for taking another sip from his wine.
"Thank you, Ezra," Kendra says, uncomfortably. She looks at you as warmly as she can, but her eyes dart away as soon as her concentration breaks.
You relax and make small talk for the remainder of the hour. The rain softens and then ceases entirely. In the distance you hear a bell beginning to sound the time of day.
Before the end of the bell tolling, there is a sharp knock at Kendra's front door. She puts her glass down, which she has been nursing since coming home, and answers the door.
"Councilman Hearthmount, please come in," she says.
"Hello Ms. Lorrimor. Let us get right to it, if you don't mind. I'm a busy man and while I do not have much time for visitors," He eyes the lot of you with suspicion. Hearthmount's attitude shows that he clearly does not care much for outsiders. "I do have the utmost respect for your father. I think he would appreciate the frankness of me dealing with these nicities."
Hearthmount approaches the desk on the wall, draws a scroll case from his pocket and places it on the desk. Then he draws a small pair of glasses from his pocket and places them on his face. He lifts the scroll case and shows it to everyone present - the seal is unbroken. He then breaks the seal and removes the scroll inside. A iron key falls onto the desk noisily. Undaunted by the key, Hearthmount begins to read, eager to be done with this business:
“I, Petros Lorrimor, being of sound mind, do hereby commit to this
parchment my last will and testament. Let it be known that, with
the exception of the specific details below, I leave my home and
personal belongings entire to my daughter Kendra. Use them or
sell them as you see fit, my child.
“Yet beyond the bequeathing of my personal effects, this
document must serve other needs. I have arranged for the reading
of this document to be delayed until all principals can be in
attendance, for I have more than mere inheritance to apportion. I
have two final favors to ask.
“To my old friends, I hate to impose upon you all, but there are
few others who are capable of appreciating the true significance of
what it is I have to ask. As some of you know, I have devoted many
of my studies to all manner of evil, that I might know the enemy and
inform those better positioned to stand against it. For knowledge
of one’s enemy is the surest path to victory over its plans.
“And so, over the course of my lifetime, I have seen fit to acquire
a significant collection of valuable but dangerous tomes, any one
of which in the wrong circumstances could have led to an awkward
legal situation. While the majority of these tomes remain safe under
lock and key at the Lepidstadt University, I fear that a few I have
borrowed remain in a trunk in my Ravengro home. While invaluable
for my work in life, in death, I would prefer not to burden my
daughter with the darker side of my profession, or worse still, the
danger of possessing these tomes herself. As such, I am entrusting
my chest of tomes to you, posthumously. I ask that you please deliver
the collection to my colleagues at the University of Lepidstadt, who
will put them to good use for the betterment of the cause.
“Yet before you leave for Lepidstadt, there is the matter of
another favor—please delay your journey one month and spend
that period of time here in Ravengro to ensure that my daughter is
safe and sound. She has no one to count on now that I am gone,
and if you would aid her in setting things in order for whatever she
desires over the course of this month, you would have my eternal
gratitude. From my savings, I have also willed to each of you a sum
of one hundred platinum coins. For safekeeping, I have left these
funds with Embreth Daramid, one of my most trusted friends in
Lepidstadt—she has been instructed to issue this payment upon
the safe delivery of the borrowed tomes no sooner than one month
after the date of the reading of this will.
“I, Petros Lorrimor, hereby sign this will in Ravengro on this
first day of Calistril, in the year 4701 Absalom Reckoning.”
A scowl crosses Ezebelle's face.
Stuck in Ravengro for a month? On babysitting duty? Professor always did like to force me into situations I didn't want to be in.
"We'll this is certainly an unwelcome turn of events." Ezebelle grumbles. "Babysitting some books and a woman I don't know. Kendra I'm assuming you had no knowledge of this forced stay in Ravengro?"
Throughout the reading of the will Edwyn had listened at the table pensively, processing the Professor's final requests. He had certainly expected the accommodations made for Kendra, but the rest came as a surprise. The prospect of having a chance to look through the same tomes that his mentor had used was like a fantasy to him. That aside, it was not a terribly unusual request.
Lorrimor's second favor however, he found strange. What could I possibly do to help her? The Professor knew what I was capable of. He was a tad eager to continue his studies at the University, but considering where they were...
"I had no idea. My father was often quick to assume I need looking after. I assure you, I do not need a 'babysitter'." Kendra gives Ezebelle a defiant look, her lips taut. She did not anticipate the will asking you all to stay, but glows slightly at the thought of company.
*Ahem* The councilman clears his throat.
"Hearthmount, thank you. You may leave at your willing." She gives a short bow to Hearthmount and turns back to the party. "I believe I know the chest of books he mentioned. I'll fetch it." Strides off into the house.
"I assume you all will be staying a short while then? Please take care to mind your own business. The citizens of Ravengro do not appreciate prying visitors." Hearthmounts face is not pleased, but feebly clinging to politeness.
Ezra nods in affirmation, she will be staying as asked.
Utho doesn't seem bothered by the situation. "Well... It is my job to protect people... And 100 platinum is a healthy sum... Could get a new sword.
"Milady Lorrimor," Utho bows. "While I understand that you do not need a babysitter, I will protect you and your home for the next month with my life. Is there somewhere that I might go that would give me a vantage point of the whole property?"
At this point, Cassiel is quite surprised to learn that 100 platinum pieces await him if he sticks around for a month.
...100 platinum pieces? For each of us? He's not serious, is he?
"Well, I don't see any reason not to stick around for a while. It could be a learning experience, if nothing else." He says with a shrug.
Still, I'd rather get back to looking for Father... but if I haven't made any progress in the last few months, I doubt I'll make much progress here.
Kendra returns with a small chest of oak and iron and places it on the table. "Unfortunately there is no good vantage point of this property. Perhaps the church across the river would serve, if father Grimburrow allows you into the belfry." She takes the iron key from the desk and gives it to Edwyn. She pours some more wine from the decanter into her glass in her right hand and crosses her left arm across her stomach, holding her right elbow.
Edwyn does not seem to pay much heed to Hearthmount. They had only just met, but he had already decided that he did not very much like the man. With a trembling hand, Edwyn takes the iron key. He looks to the wooden chest, then to Kendra, then to the key, and then back to the chest. Nagged on by his curiosity, he inserts the key into the lock and gives it a twist.
"W-well, I suppose we should take a l-look at our charge..."
Seeing that he is not being heeded, Hearthmount scoffs and exits without another word.
The key fits perfectly into the lock on the chest and the mechanism opens with a satisfying click. The top tips back smoothly and the books inside are revealed.
On top is a leather bound book, with the words "Read me now!" scrawled into the cover. It has a small leather strap and buckle holding it closed.
The second book is jet black book titled On Verified Madness. Tucked into its pages is a note requesting delivery to one Montaigne Crowl.
The third is a grey book with a green shape of a beetle or a fly on a raised engraving. It bears the title Serving Your Hunger. Tucked into it's pages is a note like the first.
The fourth is a book, somehow blacker than the second, titled The Umbral Leaves. This book also has the same note.
Last is a rich purple book of considerable heft. Adorning the center is a brass scarab set with a single eye in the center of it's thorax. The scarab also seems to double as a locking mechanism, for the book is sealed fast. You slip a note from the pages of this book which requests a different recipient than the others, one Embreth Daramid. It also requests that the delivery be handled discretely, with his home address included for such purposes.
Cassiel gets up and moves to take the leather-bound book with the note on the cover.
Ezebelle leans back in her chair, squirming slightly to get comfortable.
Let the bookish ones deal with the books, I trust Cassiel to know what to do with the one that actually means anything.
Content that Cassiel has the only book that intrigues her, Ezebelle continues to sip on her glass of wine.
"Kendra, do you have any knowledge of any other rooms that we could rent or places to stay while we are forced to stay here? Preferably I would like a place where I have only have to deal with the locals sparingly."
Cassiel looks up from the book at Ezebelle, an eyebrow arched.
"Allergies acting up already?" He says dryly.
Ezebelle glares at Cassiel, a look of exasperation on her face.
Really? Already? This is going to be a long month. Should just let the comment go. Let Cassiel be his annoying self...
"Heavens forbid I want to get away from these people. The "stubborn" ones attack a funeral procession, with farm tools no less, and the ones with some power clearly don't want us here.
I mean even the locals I don't mind have thrown random junk in my way that I have to deal with." Ezebelle proclaims, pointing at Kendra, and then the chest of books.
Or not
"Very well, the church it is. Where will my quarters be tha tI may go begin my vigil at the church and return when I am ready for rest?"
"This is n-not random junk," Edwyn protests feebly as he practically drags On Verified Madness across the table and flips open the cover. The wizard makes sure not to look Ezebelle in the eye as he speaks, for fear of being lit ablaze by friction.
"Right. And clearly the best way to cope with that is to lock ourselves away in a house like a bunch of hermits with the social skills of angry bears." Cassiel replies to Ezebelle, a wry smirk appearing on his face.
It promptly disappears, replaced by a more serious look. "My point, Ezebelle, is that if we're going to be staying here for a month, the least we could do is TRY to befriend the locals so something like the Dreamwake incident doesn't happen again. If nothing else, it'll make things easier on us in the long run." He takes another sip of his wine, wrinkling his nose.
Cassiel then proceeds to open the leather-bound book in his hands, and begins to read after sparing another look at the rest of the books, trying to see if he recognizes them.
Ezebelle lifts her wine glass to her mouth and gulps down what was left.
"Fine. You're probably right. I don't have to be happy about it though. I've never been comfortable in towns or cities and the thought of having to spend a month, not of my choosing I might add, in one has set me on edge a bit."
Ezebelle takes a deep breath in, trying to calm her anger.
"I'm sorry Kendra, what I said was out of line."
Trying to change the topic Ezebelle looks over at Cassiel as he opens the book in his hands.
"Reading anything interesting?"
"It's alright, Ezebelle. It's true that you have not had the most welcoming introduction to Ravengro. The people here are not open to strangers, but as to why that group attacked us on the Eversleep is beyond me. It wasn't you that they were protesting, either. It was me and I've lived here nearly my whole life." Kendra looks genuinely confused, as if running through the possibilities in her head.
While you are pouring over the books (or not), Kendra continues: "In hopes of repairing your impression of this place, and in agreement with my father's trust of you, I'd like to offer my home as a place to rest while you're in town. I can make up some beds for you in the multiple spare bedrooms.
"It also seemed to me that you had quite the effect on some others when you spoke at the funeral. If my intuition of the others is worth anything, I'd say that they are beginning to warm up to you. If you go on with such respect and care, they will likely change their attitude."
There is also the journal, with it's label begging you to read it:
This seems to be a journal of Petros Lorrimor. Most entries are the typical, and unremarkable daily activities of Petros. A few entries stand out:
Circled Entries in the Professor’s Journal
Ten Years Ago:
The Whispering Way is more than just a cabal of necromancers. I see that now. Undeath is their
fountain of youth. Uncovering their motivation does not place me at ease as I thought it might.
Their desire to be eternal simply makes them more dangerous.
Two Months Ago:
It is as I had feared. The Way is interested in something here in Ravengro. But what could it be?
One Month Ago:
Whatever the Way seeks, I am now convinced their goal is connected to Harrowstone. In retrospect,
I suppose it all makes sense—the stories they tell about the ruins in town are certainly chilling
enough. It may be time to investigate the ruins, but with everyone in town already being so worked
up about them, I’d rather not let the others know about my curiosity—there’s plenty of folks
hereabouts who already think I’m a demonologist or a witch or something. Ignorant fools.
Twenty Days Ago:
It is confirmed. The Way seems quite interested in something—no, strike that—someone who was
held in Harrowstone. But who, specifically, is the Way after? I need a list of everyone who died
the night of the fire. Everyone. The Temple of Pharasma must have such a list.
Eighteen Days Ago:
I see now just how ill prepared I was when I last set out for the Harrowstone. I am lucky
to have returned at all. The ghosts, if indeed they were ghosts (for I did not find it prudent to
investigate further) prevented me from transcribing the strange symbols I found etched along the
foundation—hopefully on my next visit I will be more prepared. Thankfully, the necessary tools to
defend against spirits are already here in Ravengro. I know that the church of Pharasma used to
store them in a false crypt in the Restlands at the intersection between Eversleep and the Black
Path. I am not certain if the current clergy even know of what their predecessors have hidden down
below. If my luck holds, I should be able to slip in and out with a few borrowed items.
Seventeen Days Ago:
Tomorrow evening I return to the prison. It is imperative the Way does not finish. My caution
has already cost me too much time. I am not sure what will happen if I am too late, but if my
theory is right, the entire town could be at risk. I don’t have time to update my will, so I’ll
leave this in the chest where it’ll be sure to be found, should the worst come to pass.
Cassiel's eyes widen at the sight of Serving Your Hunger and The Umbral Leaves.
Sarenrae's flaming blade, what was the professor doing with those? And that purple book... why do I get the feeling I've seen it somewhere before?
"Uh, Edwyn... I wouldn't read those if you planned to have dinner later. Well, unless you really need to vomit." He says, half-joking, half-disturbed. He points at the two aforementioned books as he speaks.
He glances over at Kendra. "Would you kindly excuse us for a minute?" Cassiel says before motioning to Ezebelle to follow him.
"What is the prison?" the deaf woman croaks.
hmm something Cassiel want to say out of ear shot of the others after reading the journal? Okay, I'm intrigued.
Ezebelle follows Cassiel into another room.
"What are you thinking?" Ezebelle asks curiously.
The other room is likewise full of bookshelves. There is a small dining set and another door to the right that leads into a sort of back door foyer area, with a staircase leading up. The present room has a chandelier that is unlit, but there is still light from the dimmed mid day son coming through a window on the front face of the house.
Back in the first room, Kendra snaps out of her deep thought and turns to Ezra "The prison? That would be Harrowstone. It was once the largest prison in the area, until it burned down about fifty years ago. What does that say about the prison?" She walks over and picks up the journal, reading through it for a few moments, the look on her face growing concerned. "Oh father. What did you get yourself into?"
Thinking a moment longer, Ezra passes a small note to Ezebelle.
He pauses, turning to the page detailing the first highlighted entry and pointing to it. "This was dated 10 years ago."
He begins turning to the more recent entries. "The professor tracked them to Ravengro... and later determined that they're after something in a place called 'Harrowstone'."
He points out the dates of the entries: the most recent one was seventeen days before his funeral. "Apparently, these necromancers were up to something in 'Harrowstone', and didn't take kindly to the professor getting involved. Put two and two together, and it seems to me that this 'Whispering Way' had him silenced before he could root them out."
A cocky smirk appears on Cassiel's face: the same one he always gets when confronted with a challenge. "Well, I think we won't be bored for the next month."
Ezebelle reads the note from Ezra while following Cassiel into the other room.
Worst come to pass? I never did enquire into how the professor died. What exactly is in this journal Cassiel is reading?
Reaching the other room, she listens as Cassiel highlights the entries from the journal for her.
"Necromancers?" Ezebelle questions, perhaps a little to enthusiastically.
"Is there any mention if they were successful in raising any undead? Are there undead in Ravengro?" Ezebelle exclaims, again a little to excitedly for what should be unfortunate news. "Maybe this stay won't be a total loss."
Edwyn frowns, confused by Cassiel's warning. Even more so when he and Ezebelle leave the room together. Now what was that all about? He squints a bit, as though it would help him hear better, but then simply shrugs his shoulder and continues to look through the tome.
When the prison comes up, he looks up the book, pondering the subject.
Cassiel grins, then turns back to the second-to-last entry. "Well, the professor did mention ghosts, or something similar, when he investigated Harrowstone. He also mentioned knowing of a stash of spirit-fighting gear in the Restlands--" He points to the entry. "--that could be of use."
He pauses, his grin fading. "Still, if we go after that stash... maybe it wouldn't be such a good idea. It IS the property of the Temple of Pharasma here, even if they don't know about it. They might take it the wrong way."
Edwyn discerns the same information as above. You recognize the titles of the books and the subject matter, but little else. These are obscure books, but not entirely unique. Their subject matter is something you would expect in the possession of a respective priest, or almost dangerously curious scholar.
The purple book evades your recognition as well, but is vaguely familiar. Perhaps you've heard Lorrimor speak of it in the past.
"Well, if you all do not mind, I'll set to preparing your bedding and then get some rest for myself. Today has taken it's toll on me and I think I would prefer to be alone. Make yourselves at home and do let me know if you need anything." Kendra forces a smile, but you can tell a deep sadness is setting in. She bows shortly and heads off into the other room, where Cassiel and Ezebelle are speaking.
"Oh, excuse me, I don't mean to interrupt. I'm going to prepare your bedding and get some rest. Would you two prefer one room, erhm... I mean do you want separate beds or. I mean there are four spare bedrooms and if any of you or your companions would prefer to share, I just don't how well you all know each other." She seems both emotionally exhausted and also suddenly bashful. Her eyes meet Cassiel's and look away quickly.
Ezebelle looks from Kendra to Cassiel and back a couple of times and then laughs aloud before stating "Two rooms."
She focuses her gaze back on Cassiel, waiting impatiently for Kendra to leave the room. The moment Kendra leaves the room Ezebelle continues.
"From what I've seen of the villagers the gear will be useless to any of them, and I'm not convinced my sword will be of much use against a ghost. Surely we should at least venture to the restlands and explore a bit. Maybe not break down any doors...but the locals can't get mad at us for just "visiting" can they?"
"Besides I'm sure the bookworm back there would love to see if the local temple has any information about this Harrowstone, or Whispering Way, or I don't know...stuff you read in books. The information could be valuable to us, so we might as well let him read the journal and then set him loose to do the boring stuff. He could possibly distract the temple a little bit while we do our exploring." She says while indicating back at the adjoining room.
"Or we could ask nicely and risk not getting the ghost fighting stuff. Your call."
Between the subject matter and the Professor's notes, it would take hours to read through all this... Edwyn thinks with a troubled expression as he idly flips through Serving Your Hunger. And I am not entirely sure I want to. Indeed, Urgathoa stood at the opposite end of the spectrum for necromancy. She was perhaps the very reason that the school was vilified as it was.
"Oh, th-thank you," he remarks to Kendra.
"Oh and. I don't expect you to look into my fathers death, but it seems you've already taken to the curiosities surrounding it. I support any efforts you would make, as I think if our roles reversed, he would take great pains to make sure there were no mysteries left unturned. Although I can't offer much in the way of investigation, I can help you identify any magical artifacts or the like you may come across and I can also attempt to convince any townsfolk who give you resistance. You've already been very helpful. I appreciate you all." Kendra shows a bittersweet smile, blushes and walks through the back of the house and upstairs.
Clearly having difficulty following the conversation, Ezra removes her mask but keeps the veil in place.
What was Kendra so bashful about? I swear, if I have to go and apologize for Ezebelle's behavior...
"Not very subtle, are you?" He says dryly while watching Kendra leave.
"It's not that the villagers won't find a use for this anti-ghost stash. It's more along the lines of where the stash *is*." Cassiel continues. "It's in a crypt. Now, I don't know about you, but where I come from, two people going into a crypt alone raises quite a few questions. Such as--" He starts counting off on his fingers. "--'Why don't those two get a room at an inn?' 'Are they paying their respects?' And perhaps the most important question in this context..."
Cassiel leans forward, looking Ezebelle squarely in the eye.
"'Are they planning to rob that crypt?' That's the question I think everyone will ask if they see us investigating that crypt."
"Fine we won't go procure the ghost stash. Yet. What do you propose we do instead? If there really are ghosts in that Harrowstone place, I'm going to want something to hit them with at some point. I'm stuck here for a month and hitting ghosts seems like a good way to waste some of the time here." Ezebelle complains.
She ponders for a moment before stating. "We Should still send the bookworm to the temple in the morning though. If the temple does have a hidden stash it owns, it means someone there knew something about those undead, might be something written down. And before you even ask, I excuse myself from doing the reading. Give me a dungeon or a forest and I'm your girl. A library? No thank you.
He stretches, then quickly glances at the door. "As for me, I think I'll do some legwork in town. Ask around about Harrowstone, maybe come back here and see if I can do more research on the 'Whispering Way'."
He turns to leave. "But for now, I think I'll go find Kendra and ask where I'll be sleeping. Good night." With that, he leaves the room to get his gear together.
Cassiel enters the room Edwyn is currently reading in and moves to retrieve his coat, hat and equipment. He glances over at the book he's reading, noting the troubled look on Edwyn's face.
"I am... not surprised he l-looked into this sort of thing..." Edwyn decides aloud, speaking to no one in particular. He closes the tome's cover, having already grown tired of the contrived, twisted litanies. Even the Professor's academic input taxed his mind. I guess I really am tired. "But if they had found out about th-these... I can see w-why the others thought him to be a..." He lets his words trail off, shaking his head.
Noticing that Cassiel has reentered the room, Edwyn sits up, pushing the unholy book away from himself. "W-what did it say in that l-last book?" he asks, hoping that the journal was the key to this puzzle.
Cassiel bends down and starts gathering his equipment into one large bundle. "Well, in order: necromancers called 'the Whispering Way', professor tails them, they start messing around with the local ghost-haunted prison wreck 'Harrowstone', professor learns of ghost-hunting stash in the Restlands, professor gets caught by necromancers, professor gets killed to keep him from blowing their cover." He says as he moves to retrieve his coat and hat.
Unable to hear the conversation in the other room, and unimpressed at the amount of secrets going around, Utho walks in to join the conversation. "Don't you think you should include the rest of us in any plans you are making? What is in that journal, anyway?" his face is annoyed.
"Utho, it seems there are a bunch of necromancers who called themselves "The whispering way" running around and it has something to do with that old prison Kendra mentioned earlier." Ezebelle recaps.
"Professor was doing some investigating into these people and found out that there are ghosts to kill! Just have to find a way to actually hit a ghost and then we'll be all set."
you can tell Ezebelle hasn't mentioned everything that was discussed in the meeting.
"What are you hiding, and why? Are we not meant to work together here?"
"I... I see." Edwyn places the tomes back into the wooden chest, putting them under lock and key. The idea that the Professor had been murdered seemed farfetched, but given the circumstances... The Whispering Way...? Why didn't you tell me about this? He was not one to delve into the darker aspects of necromancy, but if it meant rooting out those that sullied it, he would have been glad to help. He lets out a woeful sigh as he stands, slipping the iron key into a pocket.
"you seem like your a good guy, maybe even trustworthy, but I don't know you at all. and you turned into a wolf the first time we did meet. So yes we may have to work together, but as far as I know it's only out of necessity." Ezebelle admits to Utho.
"And you mentioned earlier your a paladin. I didn't want to cause any issues, but If you must know, One of the temples in the village supposedly has some items that we may have use for. They have them hidden and we were discussing how to obtain them, seeing as the locals don't seem to like us very much, and I'm not convinced the Church will just give them to us." Ezebelle states.
"Regardless, it's late, I'm tired, and I will be finding a bed to sleep in now." She proclaims before stalking off.
The multitude of research material surrounding you assists in your task. You spot a copy of University of Lepidstadt Printing House's Encyclopedia Goloria Vol. XI with a short article on The Whispering Way.
It is now dark outside. The rain is well gone, but small patches of fog still hang in the air near the ground. Inside the house it is warm and dry.
You are all growing hungry, having been swept up in the excitement (or sadness) and some amount of research has left you all hungry.
Upstairs is a hallway with three pairs of doors down the length of the house. A passage for raising food from the kitchen is apparent on the wall. At the end of the hallway is a door with an elaborate floral design engraved into it- likely a master bedroom. The first door on the right is some sort of lounge, with armchairs, a large hearth and an ample liquor cabinet. First on the left is a library, full of shelves like the below rooms, but also with low free standing shelves. Many of the volumes appear to be fiction and poetry.
The rest of rooms are the bedrooms. Each room has a good sized bed made up with a sheet, blanket and pillows. Additionally there are a couch, carpets, drapes covering the windows and a small water basin. There is also a wooden wardrobe in each room and a wooden chest with a padlock and key set. The color scheme of the house seems to be warm: reds, tans, browns and some copper tones to the trim of the drapes and the chest and wardrobes. Each room has a single window looking out the front and the back of the house respectively. In each room there is also a standing tray with a serving of bread (a day or two old), butter and cured pig meat. There was enough time for Kendra to have set this all out, while you were planning and researching in the rooms below.
The door to the master bedroom is closed and locked.