Lissala zooms off into the night. She alights in the belfrey from which she has a clear view down into the Cathedral proper. At this moment things seem normal, all she can see is the fat preist and the kids cleaning up...
AM I FORGETTING ANYONE'S STORY LINE??
Lissala will stay and watch for a while after all there is no point in going back to say nothing is happening.
You most definitely experience an Overwhelming FEY aura. You also detect a faint Evocation aura, as of those you have experienced when in the presence of magic weapons in the past.
Gur reaches down, adjusts his crotch so his penis is back in his trousers, and picks up the poor man. He then carries the body to the closest temple.
"Lisa will be back when she sees something, in the mean time we can chat or something. The Dwarf fellow seems nice, don't you think."
Gur arrives at the Temple to find Antoni and Gabi out front talking.
Gabi and Antonia see an orc coming out of the darkness carrying a dead body.
At the graveyard
The usher you out and lock the door.
Talon will grimace, "I'm not sure I'm ready to be ushered anywhere. Can you guarantee that her body will be undisturbed here?" He'll gesture at the mausoleum with the tip of his sword. "You might want to think carefully before you answer that. I'm not in a very good mood."
Gilderoy just remains impassive as he looks at it, trying to gather instances of what could cause such strange circumstances.
He makes a mental note to think to speak to the others about what he's seeing, before motioning Kendra over, speaking quietly. "There's an immensely strong Fey presence in this well, but it also has the same appearance to it that I've seen in magical weapons. Unfortunately, I'm not real knowledgeable about fey energies."
Unfortunately Gilderoy knows nothing that could be further helpful
Cleric: My dear Sir, we are preists of Pharasma, men of the cloth! It is our duty to ensure the bodies laid here are protected...that is why we lay them here! And we don't allow them out or allow any one in without proper consent of the family, and proper payment. These two safeguards have ensured the hygiene of our burial rites for generations. If you must, you may check the building to make sure it's secure. If you find a way in we will remedy the breech! And perhapse even pay you for your services as a 'security consultant?' for helping us identify where the building is unsecure...Now forgive me but I am very tired. Too many funerals in one week.
The clerics walk off in the direction of the Cathedral...
What is the burial fee?
Cleric: Father alfons sets the fee. that way he can be sure to make it something fair and not overwhelm the family whether rich or poor. Father Alfons is a just and verdent man.
The priests continue walking until they are out of earshot. They return to the temple.
Ras and I assume Talon will try to meet up with Gabbi and Toni. Or we will head to speak with father Grimwood.
Talon will take a slow tour around the building looking for weak spots in the security.
door: strong wooden; hardness 5; hp 20; break dc 25. You notice no other way in walking around the building. But you do perceive small holes in the building's columns facing the door. You have no doubts this is part of some trap.
"So the only way in is through the front door, eh? Lets see if we can fix that."
Talon will straiten out a fish hook and gently insert it into the lock being careful not to wiggle it around (I'm thinking that the trap shouldn't trigger just from sticking something into the keyhole).
"They won't be openin' that door, even with the proper key. Remind me to purchase a pair of tweezers. We'll be wantin' to get in there ourselves sooner or later."
That will surprise the fat cleric...nice move.
Master Gilderoy, If the auras you suggest are here in this well, I do not believe we have the fire power between you and I to handle it at this time. Perhaps we should find the others and bring them back here? We must also attend to my Father's Will. The town Councilman was planning to open the seal for me tonight with you all present. I'm sure he has awayed to bed by now...
It is 4:00am. Clouds have rolled back in during the night but the world around you is starting to brighten, hinting at morning.
As you mount the horses to return to town Kendra spurs her mount along side yours. Gosler has been a faithful horse of mine for many years. Gilderoy, I feel the troubles we face are only beginning. If you will stay here in Ravengro with us, with me, to help us overcome these terrible challenges, I would like to offer Gosler to you as a gift. He will serve you well. What do you say? Is this a fair offer?
Gosler is a non-combat trained heavy horse, worth 200gp. A fine animal and worthy treasure for a budding adventurer.
Lissala watches for nearly 1/2 hour until all the cleanup work has been done. Finally the Cleric, Alfons, motions the altar servers through the side door to the hallway which Talon had snuck away through earlier in the evening. The chapel goes quiet. The bird watches for a bit longer, listening carefully.
Lissala is just about to fly back with her report when the same door opens again. Trixie appears. She looks around and then stealthily makes her way to the altar upon which stands the golden statue/symbol of Pharasma. She lifts it up and slips a piece of paper underneath, then replaces it, careful to ensure the statue has not shifted from its original location.
As fast as she arrived she leaves, closing the hallway door as silently as she can...
That must be a A dead drop muses Lissala. Hm...
After some minor discussion you each find your way back to the Lorrimor house, exhausted and confused. (N on the map)
Each of you now knows a small piece of Ravengro's puzzle, and has a lot to share with the others. And there is still the Will of the professor to open. There are many roads available to you now...which to tackle first?
But for now, Kendra sees each of you to a room where you can crash and recover. She promises that in the morning there will be time for you all to debate the mysteries that lie before you...
THE NEXT MORNING
You awake late in the morning to find a fabulous breakfast layed out upon the dinning room table. Kendra herself is nowhere to be found. But you now have the chance to sit in the relatively safe place, and make a new game plan together!!!
'SoandSo tells the others what happened to him.' :-)
"That is very much a fair offer indeed, Kendra. To be quite honest, I intend to stay here as long as necessary to get all of these mysterious happenings resolved. With morning so swiftly approaching, it does make me wonder how we'll meet up with the group. And truthfully, some sleep would probably does us all a world of good."
He continues keeping pace with her on the horse.
----
[Edit] Gilderoy digs into the food, taking slow bites but still showing evident hunger. "So Kendra and I went to the home of the dead girl's parents. The well there is very weird. I studied it, and it strongly radiates fey essence but also energy like a weapon spell. I've never seen anything like it. The more food you lower into the well, the more gold. The woman's husband lowered himself in before we got there and there was a massive amount of gold and jewels."
He lets it all sink in.
"So Kendra and I went to the home of the dead girl's parents. The well there is very weird. I studied it, and it strongly radiates fey essence but also energy like a weapon spell. I've never seen anything like it. The more food you lower into the well, the more gold. The woman's husband lowered himself in before we got there and there was a massive amount of gold and jewels."
He lets it all sink in.
There is something of importance I need to speak to all of you about regarding the professors death. You have heard the story of the professor searching the grounds around Harrostone and a gargoyle fell on him and killed him. I have reasons to believe this is not the truth. I believe the professor was murdered.
Before the professor died he sent word to me to check Highhelm's extensive library for mention of a cult called the Whispering Way.
"So what did you find?"
"The largest amount came when her husband lowered himself into the well..." Gilderoy seems quite in shock over the last part.
----
Indeed, what showed up in research?" the sorcerer is genuinely interested in all the strange developments.
I did not find mention of the Whispering Way, but I did find mention of the Weeping Way. The Weeping Way was a cult dedicated to the idea that through the same necromantic magic used to animate the undead they would discover the secret to immortality. Much like the magics used to transform into a Lich. Of course where that takes huge ammounts of time, money, magic, and power this cult promised a fast cheap and easy path to immortality. I can not prove it yet, but I feel this new cult the Whispering Way is related to the older cult. Further the time between the professor contacting me about this cult and his death lead me to believe that the Whispering Way played a large roll in his death. I would like to gather more information on Harrowstone and then investigate myself. If I am right I an honor bound to put a stop to this cults dealings as a friend of the professor and as a cleric of Torag.
"So does anyone know anything about the Harrowstone? Some kind of prison that burned down wasn't it? Is there a library in town?" Talon paces about the room impatiently, "I've gotta admit. My first priority is seein' Lora put safely in the ground. your fey wishin' well can wait, as long as they stop feedin' it husbands and the like. What can you tell us about the fat priest, Alfons?" He asks no one in particular.
"Talon seems like a good man," Toni says to Gabbi as they wait.
Yes Harrowstone was a famous prison that tragically burned down after an inmate riot. Tragically all inmates and most of the guards died.
[ooc]Previous night[ooc]
Lissala flys back and speaking excitely. "I've got a secret... alright I'll tell you, one of the girls hid something under the statue on the alter. She was careful to put it back exactly where is was though."
Toni looks to Gabbi. "Should we see about that?"
"I think he might like you, you know. He kept looking at you and flirting." She says smiling.
When Lissala returns, "Shall we go have a look?" She asks.
Toni nods and follows Gabbi back to the temple. "Talon told me I wasn't his kind of girl."
"Yes, the warden and many of the guards famously gave their lives to stop the worst prisoners in the nation escape the fire. He probably saved the town from unspeakable evil, they made a statue of him."
"I'm sure that the professor has a library as good as any in the town, it might have his own notes in the margins as he was researching the jail."
"If we aren't going to do anything about the well right now we should get the poor mother to move away from it, maybe stay with relatives or here if she doesn't have any where else." Gabbi looks at Kendra.
Gabbi frowns for a moment then smiles "That's ok I'll find out what kicd of girl he is looking for, then with couple of spells I can fix everything." as they get close to the temple she lowers her voice "You stay here, I'll sneak in." she says wanting to prove she isn't a coward.
Toni looks at Gabbi. "Be careful and holler, if you need me. If he doesn't like me the way I am, then it's not a big deal. Someday, someone will accept me for who I am."
She takes careful note of the placement of the statue before carefully moving it reading it and replacing it. If the note is for us she'll keep the note otherwise the note is also returned.
Seeing as the girls have completely ignored an orc with a torn open dead body appearing in there midst; further lending credence to his theory that this is all just a dream."Nice night for it." He then tromps by headed for the temple with nary an explanation. Muttering to himself."A dwarf and a human... now I know I am dreaming."
Having kept his tale of woe from the others, still not sure what is going on but pretty sure he has gone quite mad and is in his own little world right now. "So let me see if I understand, evil cult, town in danger from ghosts, Harrowstone prison. Ok so why don't we go find this prison and stop the cultists?" Gur takes another swig from a bottle of alcohol he had produced from his pouch. One long hard pull later."Well I am ready whenever everyone else is."
After things settle down from the fiasco of having seen an Orc appear out of nowhere with a dead body, Gabi not-so-stealthily moves through the now darkened chapel. Antoni and Gur watch from the doorway.
She lifts the statue and removes the letter. It is not addressed to her. Instead it is a note to Father Grimburrow! It says A dwarf and a powerful looking women were here tonight. We told them. Maybe they can help...look for the women with the gold helment and the man with the long beard! -Trixie
Gabi puts the letter back, and leaves the chapel unnoticed...
Gur barges into the temple of Pharasma with the dead body in hand."I have a former demon possessed man here. I need someone to bless the body so the demon thing doesn't repossess his corpse."
Gabbi checking over her shoulder as she sneaks out doesn't notice Gur until she he is almost on her. Turning around she lets out a scream that pierces the silent darkness. After a couple of moments of recognition she calms down. "Are you alright? What happened?