"Indeed, and you are quite surprising yourself. It looks to be quite a surprising night." the pale man chuckles and follows after the lady.
Talon stares at the priest suspiciously,
Ras looks at Gabbi questioningly as he has no idea how to deal with human children.
Seeing in the apprehension in Talon's face, Toni clings to the body, looking to the dwarf to see what his instincts tell him.
The acolytes walk softly up to Antonia. It's okay, sister, we shall take good care of her. Pharasma will bless her departure.
They reach out to take the body.
Gilderoy tries to hide his utter surprise, stroking his chin. "This is...strange looking. Is that normal for this well?"
Gabbi opens the door and motions the children inside but hangs back to allow the family to have some time together.
The girls squeel and scamper to their parents. There is a fine reunion as they hug and kiss. The father holds them aloft and tears stream down his face. After a few moments he turns to Gabi and Rasgraton.
The two of you are heros! Where is Lola, their baby sitter? Did she make it home okay?
Talon murmurs to Toni, "Something's off about this one...". He'll clear his throat and declare, "By dwarven tradition and law, having named Lola a hero I must stand vigil over her.". He draws his greatsword with a flourish and plants it point down on the floor of the temple with an implacable sounding clank.
gilderoy's story -
As you speak the women reels around and sees the two massive horses coming out of the gloom. Her whole ordeal is beyond what she can handle. She faints, landing hard on the grass. The parchment falls out of her hand.
The clouds begin to clear revealing a menacingly large white moon.
No Gilderoy, it most certainly does NOT!
"A ceremony befitting her courage and honor would be more appropriate than leaving her in the arms of these...clergymen," Toni murmurs. "I will trust you...for now, Mister Darkslayer."
She was uncomfortable in this temple and its "civility". She followed Gorum and, in cases like these, Lola should be honored as a warrior. Unfortunately, she was unsure of the statutes regarding funeral pyres. The trust of the townspeople seemed important to the group, though she had few misgivings about following her heart. She would leave the matter in Talon's hands for the time being, but Lola's body would not leave her grasp until it was properly taken care of.
"As my companion says, you shall perform your rites in our presence," Toni declares to Alfons and the acolytes.
Gilderoy makes his way off the horse, knowing if he's not careful, the fall could be quite killer. Once he's on the ground, he moves over to the woman, crouching and picking up the parchment. "Oh dear gods...this night just keeps getting weirder and weirder..."
He motions Kendra over and shows her the parchment, as he stands back up. "Looks like we're in for a really strange night. I think, first and foremost, we check the house."
Gabbi begins to go red again. "I'm no hero, I ran. The thing struck Gilderoy and then it went dark. This man here is a hero he stood strong against it but not me."
"I wasn't even powerful enough to do anything for Lola, she looked after the children but... If they look after the body well I might be able to help her in time."
The girls squeel and scamper to their parents. There is a fine reunion as they hug and kiss. The father holds them aloft and tears stream down his face. After a few moments he turns to Gabi and Rasgraton.
The two of you are heros! Where is Lola, their baby sitter? Did she make it home okay?
I am sad to report that no she did not. She was the true hero this night.
Ras will say this to Gabbi when the parents and children are not around.
Young lady, do not put yourself down like that anymore. If any of us can claim to be heroes tonight then it is only because we answered a call for help. I did little more then share the strength of Torag. So if I am to be called hero you must as well. Let these poor people believe we have come to rescue them from the dark. It is what the late professor would have done.
Seeing as nothing has stood in Gur's way getting to the tavern he will sidle up to the bar and ask what happened to his absinthe.
"A ceremony befitting her courage and honor would be more appropriate than leaving her in the arms of these...clergymen," Toni murmurs. "I will trust you...for now, Mister Darkslayer."
Talon will whisper back to Toni, "It's not for us to tell these people how to bury their dead, but we can make sure that the lass is treated with respect."
Toni nods to Talon and waits for the clergyman's response.
Ras will say this to Gabbi when the parents and children are not around.
Young lady, do not put yourself down like that anymore. If any of us can claim to be heroes tonight then it is only because we answered a call for help. I did little more then share the strength of Torag. So if I am to be called hero you must as well. Let these poor people believe we have come to rescue them from the dark. It is what the late professor would have done.
"But you don't understand. I don't even know how to swing a sword, but I know somethings more powerful, spells. But my Corpus can only contain a small number of spells at the same time. None of the spells I had were useful. This morning I cast a spell to make the trip more comfortable, that could have been the spell that would have saved Lola."
acolytes back off. At least they pretend this is intimidation enough. Who the hell knows what's going on?!
Very well sir, we shall prepare the rites in your presence, since you are rude enough to insist upon intruding in the delicate rituals of Pharasma! To Antonia: Dear lady, please lay the
body up there on the Alter. Then you may take a seat in the pews. The priest then calls for his alter servers. Venora! Trixie! Ozymandius! Quickly now...bring the Holy Water and Oils. There
is precious little time left for this poor girl! The Priest strokes lola's blackened hair affectionately.
The rights appear normal. A lot of bowing, prayers, ect. The only thing you notice is that when the Priest approaches one of his alter servers, the generally look down at the ground, almost in an ashamed way. At one point the Priest sends Venora to fetch something. She walks by you and gives you a strange, almost pleading look, then dissapears through a door.
Her father then walks up too. Yes, sometimes just showing up is enough to be counted as a hero. I know that before this monster would have taken my babies they would have had to get through you first! Cheer up, girl! I have a gift for you too. I own the Ravengro Trading Co. I have instructed to Executive Officer at The Silk Purse to respect you and your friends new ownership in my company. You own 1000 shares. Each is now worth about 1 gp. But we are doing well, and our long term investors will surely find it worth their while! Also, 1000 shares gives you and your friends enough ownership to have voting rights in the company! I know, you were expecting more in reward, but all my money is tied up in the company and at present it's all I have to give. Pharasma bless you. He kisses Gabi on the forehead and shakes the mighty hand of Rasgraton.
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"We'll you can hardly walk out now after making such a show of it can you nitwit" Talon thinks to himself. A thought occurs to him and he asks with obvious embarrassment, "Um, Toni, can you stand vigil for a bit. Call of nature."
"Of course, Mister Darkslayer," Toni says, drawing her own greatsword. "Take your time."
She eyes the clerics as Talon leaves.
Gilderoy shakes his head. "It's not going to turn out well either way. We need to be as gentle as possible, because she's obviously been through a lot."
The man just smiles slightly. "But at least she can say that her daughter was a great hero."
To Gabbi
Have faith and a little confidence in yourself. I have lived longer then you can imagine. Nothing in this world ever stays the same. We and everything around us is changed by the choices we make. You made a good choice to go help and that has started you on a path to growing.
To the Father
Thank you Sir, this is more reward then we deserve for saving children. We will accept with gratitude. He says with a smile.How long have these haunting's and unnatural incidents been happening in your town? We strangers are all here for the same reason, our love of the late Professor. He in turn loved this town so in honor of his memory some of us if not all will do whatever we can to help you in this dark time.
The women comes to and the two of you break the news to her as gently as possible. She is dumb-struck. Mrs Fenburry: First the well and now this? How can so much evil happen to one family in a single day? After a few moments of tears she asks Where is my Lola now? Where did you take the body?
Thank you so much for your time sir. I will personally do what ever I can to help this town. It is the least I can doo. What do you say we pay a visit to Father Grimwood Gabbi?
"Well, I believe that Kendra guided several of my traveling companions to the town's priests that usually attend to such matters. I know it's hard to see now, but I must say, your daughter was one of the bravest young women I've ever known. If it weren't for her courage, the loss of life would have struck another family as well."
He tries his best to be comforting. "Just know that when others speak of this terrible time, know that she receives the same honor in story, song, and memory as any great dragon slayer. If there is anything I can do for you, while I am in town, do not hesitate to ask."
Yes, Mrs. Fenburry, as Master Gilderoy has said, I directed his companions to take your daughter to the Clerics of Pharasma...
"Is she really upset or is this a setup" Talon wonders.
May as well hear what she has to say, "I understand. It's never an easy thing to speak out, but I saw the look on your face. You know somethin' is off here and I can see that you feel the need to speak of it. What's troublin' you lass?"
The following events happen at the same instant: 2:30am in Ravengro...
Truly, ne'er was there a town that needed heros like Ravengro!! You feel a surge of conviction flow through you as you resolve to see the troubles here through to their bitter end!!
Gilderoy has a moment where the look on his face hardens. "To think that someone could do something so awful....He won't be allowed to continue this. You have my word!"
His eyes then soften, as the gear turn in him attempting to come up with the "how" of taking the "priest" down.
"Where did that bump in the night come from?" Talon glares around.
(darkvision)
He'll head back and whisper to Toni what the girl told him adding, "What is wrong with this town. I always thought the professor was a right scary bastard for all that he did me a solid but I can't believe that it was like this while he was alive. I mean hells, they tried to serve me blue glowing goo in that tavern and call it ale! That's just not right!"
Toni's eyes narrow at Talon's words. "Do you think she was honest, Mister Darkslayer?"
Toni's eyes narrow at Talon's words. "Do you think she was honest, Mister Darkslayer?"
Talon whispers back, "Just call me Talon, lass. And yeah I think so, why make up a story such as that? I don't think it's our place to confront this cleric Alfons though, not just yet. We should make sure Lola is treated right for now and talk with Kendra later. You think?"
With more bounce suddenly back she says "Yes, yes let go talk to father Grimwood." As they leave "I think I remember Petros mentioned something about the Harrowstone Jail. It was used to house some of the worst criminals and burnt down about 70 years ago."
With more bounce suddenly back she says [b]"Yes, yes let go talk to father Grimwood."
With more bounce suddenly back she says "Yes, yes let go talk to father Grimwood." As they leave "I think I remember Petros mentioned something about the Harrowstone Jail. It was used to house some of the worst criminals and burnt down about 70 years ago."
[dice=History to remember more]1d20+13
Yes it was. There is much more to that story though, I was hoping to share it with the the others sooner, but it must wait it seems.
"I agree about Lola being taken care of first," Toni whispers. "But if we don't do something about it, who will? I'm sure they've been at this a while."
Toni's grip tightens on the hilt of her sword, her knuckles whitening.
"Ay, later."
"As you wish, Talon," Toni says, trying to choke down her anger. "These people have enough problems to deal with without adding that of human monsters."