"I have to say I'm a lot more curious about why the Doctor has asked us here now than I was yesterday."
Sterling nods, his hood bobbing once, slowly.
"Indeed. The curiosity is killing me. It is invigorating."
Sterling looks at Cole.
"I hope that was only a guess, and not a sudden debut of some latent oracular-predictive powers."
Cole snorts in derision.
”I couldn’t predict the weather, even if I was seeing it in process with my own eyes. But I’m smart enough to guess: The good Doctor has semi-retired right? Yet, he’s an expert on the occult and death. Who knows how long he’s been stewing here with time on his hands to ‘See a plot stewing’ or some such. Probably discovered a nest of ghasts or something terrible Im sure. Im fine with it as long as I get to burn something.”
"I have to say I'm a lot more curious about why the Doctor has asked us here now than I was yesterday."Sterling nods, his hood bobbing once, slowly.
"Indeed. The curiosity is killing me. It is invigorating."
Cole merely rolls his eyes at Teofila behind Sterling’s back and rubs his forehead in mild pain as he feels a headache approaching.
Kenzo looks at Sergei and says, "It seems my path goes over this bridge. Does coincidence happen to also take you over the bridge?" He waits to see the answer before heading to the Doctor's abode.
"It does," Sergei said simply. "Were you also summoned by Doctor Van Richten?"
"Yes, we worked together some years ago. Well, apparently we are heading to the same place. Let us continue. How do you know the Doctor?" Kenzo asks as he turns and heads over the bridge.
"I used to be... trapped," Sergei replied carefully. "Doctor Van Richten freed me. I owe him more than I can ever repay."
Sergei and Kenzo
Crossing the bridge, you encounter yet another posting poll, but this one has little of interest posted to it.
You pass through the town square and its several buildings, from beneath a gazebo a dog emerges. It sniffs in your direction and gives a half-hearted growl towards Sergei.
Standing outside of the general store are several men, one in particular is tall and carries himself well, despite his older age. As the two of you pass through the town square, he eyes you warily. No one waves or gives any words of greeting.
Unperturbed, you continue on to the Doctors abode.
-------
Ravengro - All Together Now
As Bastian, Alain, Sterling, Teofila, and Cole head across the small bridge and up the road following directions of the good Doctor. Simultaneously heading down that same road having exited the center of town, also following the directions of the good Doctor are Kenzo and Sergei.
All seven of you pause on the street in front of the house that meets the simple instructions given by Doctor van Richten.
The house has appears to be two stories tall, smoke billows up from the chimney and even now the lot of you can picture Rudolph sitting next to that fire reading a treatise awaiting your arrival. Next to the house is a smaller single story guest house or perhaps storage house for his lifetime collection of oddities. Behind that, is clearly a stable.
The man traveling with the monk was covered head to toe, barely a fraction of skin visible, and all his clothes looked like they'd been scavanged from a charity bin. In spite of the fair weather, he looked like he was ready for a rainstorm. He wore a battered tricorn hat, a pair of dark circular glasses, and a dark red scarf pulled high enough to cover his nose, and a long overcoat. He even wore riding gloves, though he didn't have a horse. Only his boots were high quality. The rest of his garb was old, threadbare, patched, and scuffed.
He was tall, slender, and broad shouldered. He could have cut an imposing figure, but his head was tucked downward, and his posture hunched and tense. He seemed to be doing everything in his power short of crouching to make himself appear smaller.
He eyed the array of very different looking travelers nervously. "Friends of the Doctor as well?" he asked in a smooth, quiet baritone.
The average sized man wrapped in a slightly tattered black travel cloak with the hood pulled down to a point to hide his face nods once, slowly. His unusual holy symbol of Pharasma moves on his chest as he does so.
"Indeed." He answers in a soft monotone.
The hooded head turns to look at the monk and the man wearing clothes as tattered than his own cloak, but says nothing else yet.
"Interesting...I wonder what the Doctor is up to that would require so much assistance. Did he tell any of you why he needed to see us?" Kenzo asks as he looks over the others.
Cole ignores the questions, sneers, and crosses his arms over his chest. He snorts derisively and shakes his head as he waits.
The hooded man reaches up and slowly (almost reluctantly), pulls his hood down. Revealing a pleasant looking younger man, very pale, with a shock of black hair long enough to hide his eyes from view like a second hood.
The pale man looks at the monk and nods his head slightly in polite greeting. (Perhaps recognizing him as a monk?) Then he shrugs slightly.
"His letters to us were very noncommittal on that subject. Quite unlike his usual, loquacious self. Quite mysterious."
When the man speaks, his speech is very soft. Yet his voice carries clearly to everyone present as if he is used to public speaking. He places a hand on his chest and makes a small bow, first to the monk, then to the others that just met his group.
"I am a priest in the service of Pharasma. I am commonly known by the non-de-plume 'Raven'. My name is Sterling Starshadow. As acquaintances of the doctor, you may address me by whichever you wish."
At this soft-spoken, almost monotone statement 'Raven' gives a small smile, doubtless meant to be comforting. You are fairly certain that to the average townsfolk it would be considered 'Spooky'.
As the strangers loiter in front of Doctor van Richten's home, from the north a lone figure heads down the path. She looks intently at the Doctors home, and then at the lot of you standing outside of his home...
As the number of people arriving at Doctor Van Richten's house keeps growing, so does Teofila's curiosity.
"Is the Doctor throwing a big party, or is he building a small army?"
"I'm a hopin for the party." drawls a huge man, who still sits on his equally large horse.
"But ta my mind, a battle be the next best thing." he adds with a grin.
His pale blue eyes stare out from his snow-white skin, while the light breeze tosses his hair in front of his face.
He slowly dismounts and advances on the door, raising and letting fall the knocker twice. "But I'm a thinkin this is the best way ta be findin out."
As the dark figure approach the gathering, the first thing that catches the eye is long red hair glowing the morning sun light. A black swashbuckler's hat with a black feather in it come into focus next as the figure comes more into focus. There a two rapiers at her side. She seems attractive but as she gets closer some unusual features are notices. White horns are poking up from her hat and a tail with a devil's spade is seaying behind her. As she speaks you can see small fangs.
"Greetings. I am Vaneza."
(Ooc: Sorry I typed that in a back of a car so there maybe errors)
Kenzo nods and says, "Well, there is only one way to find out." Kenzo motions for whoever is closest to knock on the door. He is an average sized human man in traveling robes. He has bow on his back and a short sword at his side.
As the number of people arriving at Doctor Van Richten's house keeps growing, so does Teofila's curiosity.
"Is the Doctor throwing a big party, or is he building a small army?"
Sterling tilts his head quizzically.
"Yes?"
"Greetings. I am Vaneza."
Sterling places a hind on his heart and gives a small bow, the holy symbol of Pharasma bouncing as he does so.
"Sterling." He provides in a soft, clear voice.
The priest observes 'Ogre's' knocking on the Doctors' door with a bland expression that almost manages to look curious.
At this point the cleric halfway expects to see another group of strangers behind the door instead of the doctor.
The tall man at the doorway turns at the sound of the new arrival. A smile breaks across his face as he spies the attractive figure of Vaneza. It fades a mite when the horn, fangs and tail become evident. However he offers a small shrug, as if to himself.
"Ms Vaneza... why it almost looks as if you could use three of those toothpicks." he says, gesturing to her pair of rapiers.
Sighing again, Cole pulls back his grey hood to show off his greenish skin, dark hair, and small tusks. He then steps up to the door everyone is dithering around and proceeds to knock loudly in a gruff manner. He then steps back to where he originally was standing next to Teofila. The movement easily reveals his earth-toned clothes and leather armor, as well as the hilt of an antique sword of some sort at his belt.
”Aren’t we a great group of gaggling geese. Time to find out what this shindig is all about. “
Alain keeps to himself. He smokes his cigarette to almost the end and puts the butt end in a vest pocket. He looks over the assembled group with his pale winter-ice eyes. He regards the doctors house with much the same detachment, scanning the two buildings as if searching for enemies or avenues of escape
As Ogre's gentle knock does not elicit a fast enough approach, Cole's loud knock does the trick.
A middle-aged woman answers the door. Her eyes are puffy with tears welling at the edges. Though no longer young, she is still quite attractive and holds herself with a noble bearing. Her dress is all black, with lace wound up tight to her neck. A brooch with a symbol of Phrasma dangles just below her collar, it is a mere piece of jewelry though and not a holy symbol.
"Are you the pallbearers that Father Grimburrow had asked to come by?" she seems genuinely confused. "I..." her eyes catch sight of Teofila and she pauses.
Sterling's face betrays actual surprise. For a moment.
He turns to look at Teofila as well.
"Pallbearers?"
"I like to be prepared."
Vaneza says to the large man.
To the woman who answered the door...
"I am not a pallbearer...I dont waste my time like that. I was invited by the good Doctor."
She brings out the letter and offer it to the woman.
Cole curses under his breath in orcish. He then wipes the sneer off his face and turns to Teofila.
”Seems we may be late in arriving. Extremely too late...”
Summoner
Cole curses under his breath in orcish. He then wipes the sneer off his face and turns to Teofila.
”Seems we may be late in arriving. Extremely too late...”
Sterling sighs, barely audible. He moves his shock of black hair to the side so you can actually see his eyes, and steps forward to the woman in black. He bows slightly. His impassive features now serve to radiate a sense of calm, as opposed to disinterest.
The blessings and guidance of Pharasma to this dwelling and all who are within. Both living and passed to the other side of the veil." Here Sterling traces the spiral of Pharasma in the air before him.
(To those who know him at least a little, His shift in demeanor indicates that whatever else, it seems he takes his priestly duties seriously enough.)
"I am Sterling, priest of Pharasma and, friend, to Doctor Richten. I,... WE, all seem to have received invitations from the doctor to visit. And have arrived nearly simultaneously. Please, tell us what has happened here."
The woman frowns, "It would be better if you came inside and had Kendra explain it to you. I was just about to leave and seek out Father Grimburrow". She steps aside to allow those of you who wish to enter, to do so.
Ogre eyes the doorjam as he might a thug in a dark alleyway. Then ducking, he enters the doctors house.
"Do we take it that Dr Richten is no more?" he asks.
Sterling frowns briefly, barely noticeable before his usual somber expression returns.
"Of course." The priest says as he makes his way to the door.
"Thank you." He adds to the woman as he passes her to enter the house.
Wordlessly Cole follows, nodding to the strange woman as he enters.
Vaneza will follow the others inside. Going last.
Kenzo enters frowning at the strange greeting and hoping that the news is not as dire as it sounds.
Fearing the worst, Sergei quietly walked in with the crowd.
Alain walks in with the rest. He speaks softly, almost in a whisper
“We all live our lives from their beginning to their end. Ka is always served”
As the Party enters van Richten's home, they stand in a large front room, which quickly becomes small at the presence of so many of you standing within at once. To the left of the entrance are rows of bookshelves that run to the full length of the room. Next to that shelf is a set of stairs leading up and adjacent to that is a doorway that leads farther into the home. To the right of the room is a couch, in front of which is indeed a coffin. A few chairs are interspersed in the room in a haphazard fashion. All are empty. Standing next to the coffin, her eyes also puffy from crying is Kendra van Richten, though none of you had ever met her before, the Doctor had described her enough times that you recognize her instantly.
Unlike the small mousy frame of her father, Kendra is tall, nearly 6'. Her hair is auburn and here eyes a deep greenish hazel and quite striking. Her long floor length dress is a dark crimson, almost black.
The woman at the door hovers for a moment as you all enter.
Kendra blinks as if just now realizing you have all entered. "Oh but you all have arrived! And at the same time it seems, Father would have been so happy to see you all". Her eyes well up again but she holds her composure.
The woman speaks, "Kendra, do you know these people?" Her eyes once again linger on Teofila.
Kendra blows her nose into her handkerchief, and waves the woman away, "Yes, it's fine, go. Find out what is delaying Father Grimburrow and the pallbearers". The woman lingers for a moment and then exits the home, leaving all of you alone with Kendra.
"It is... shocking I know. Father was so very excited for you all to arrive and collaborate. Then.. this..." she gestures at the casket.
Teofila is unsettled by several things over the next few minutes after the door opens. First, the woman asks about pallbearers. Second, the woman then seems to recognize her, or at least she thinks she might but isn't sure enough to say anything to Teofila. Teofila is fairly certain she doesn't recognize the woman though.
Then comes the news that Doctor van Richten has died. Then again she gets an odd look from the woman. The second time it happens, Teofila looks back, cocking her head to the side a little as if she might think she recognizes the woman in return. This time she speaks to her.
"Thank you for inviting us in, and being here for Miss Kendra in her time of grief Madame..."
Teofila lets the sentence trail off as if the woman's name is on the tip of her tongue, but she can't quite retrieve it. Her idea is that given the cue, the woman might help her out by supplying it.
Noticing the old looks at Teofila, Cole leans a little closer to her with a raised bushy eyebrow.
"What do you think is up with those glances? Think they might be looking to accuse you of his murder or something?"
"I was.. drawls Ogre "Unaware of any frailty in the Dr. How did he come to pass Ms Kdendra?" asks the huge figure.
The woman nods to Teofila as she exits.
Kendra gathers herself and dries her eyes responding to Ogre, "Nor I. My Father has always been strong of mind. Certainly he is not the sort like you who is powerful in build but his small frame was matched by a stout heart!
Two nights ago, I was out with friends at the Outward Inn. I arrived home quite late and saw the door ajar. I checked the house but saw nothing amiss and peeked on father in bed, in the dark he simply appeared asleep.
When I woke in the morning and began cooking, he did not rise. Quite unusual!" she smiles for a moment at a memory.
She continues, "I entered his room thinking perhaps he was feeling ill. Then I..I.. saw his face!
It was frozen in a rictus of terror. I've never seen such a thing before. I tried to rouse him but felt no pulse... I ran out and sought Father Grimburrow, but there was nothing he could do. He was gone. Father Grimburrow believes that perhaps it was a heart attack from some sort of night terrors.
He was of course unaware of the night terrors until I informed him, it was not something father shared lightly or with many people.
Those dreams, those dark dreams of his..." She pauses and swallows, tears begin to well up once more.
"It is quite tragic that the terrors took him...but do you know why he asked that we all come here at this time? It seems odd that such a fate would fall him right before so many guests were set to arrive." Kenzo says as he considers the workings of fate and coincidence.
"He spoke to me of his dreams. It is a malady we shared," Sergei said quietly. He knelt near Kendra and placed a gloved hand over hers. "The things he learned from his nightmares allowed him to teach me how to cope with my own. He said any burden could become a strength if we are willing to endure without shying from discomfort, and seek understanding in spite of fear. Everything I know of embracing life, I learned from him." Where he'd been awkward and distant outside, now he seemed to know exactly what to do to comfort the grieving woman.
The woman hurries away, still unnamed and leaving Teofila perplexed.
By the time she turns her attention back to the conversation in the room, Teofila can reply to Cole with confidence that she isn't concerned about anything like being accused of having some hand in the Doctor's death.
"I really doubt anyone could think a gave the Doctor night terrors" she says in a low voice.
After relaying her condolences to Kendra, Teofila asks "how long had these plagued Doctor? Were they a recent occurrence, or had he suffered from them for a long time?"
Narrowing his eyes Cole looks around, trying to see things as the Doctor might. The Doctor always said to Cole: [i]‘To look…to SEE with another’s eyes is both a blessing and a curse.’[i] Nothing stood out, other than the strange collection the Doctor was quite proud of and had spoken of often with pride.
”Was any other evidence of a crime noticed? Magic of dark nature could have caused his demise. Has anyone checked his possessions for anything missing? Not to dismiss the seriousness of his death, but this could be nothing more than a robbery gone bad.”
Vaneza will wonder over to the coffin and look over the corpse of the Doctor(if th coffin is closed she will open it).
Quietly she will say
"Alot of creatures the go bumb in the night attack us through our dreams"
Kendra handles the questions in turn, "I am not sure exactly why he asked you all here, I assume it had to do with his work. He was bored with the mundane life and had been spending time the past several months looking into the history of Harrowstone prison, even poking around the ruins a time or two".
She smiles at Sergei, "Yes, my father was a kind man, he did what he could to help others. It is good to know that his legacy may live through you".
She looks up for a moment seeking to recall the answer to Teofila's question, "His dreams for as long as I could remember were dark, he believed that he must have had some spiritual connection to the land as many of his insights and inventions were designed in his dreams. He was never able to prove any sort of connection even when he sought magical or divine assistance to investigate.
As your friend just noted, he faced the darkness and turned those dreams into a force for good in these dark lands.
The terrors though, they have been recent, the last two months or so. They were different, darker, he would not discuss those with me in detail".
Kendra shakes her head in the negative, "I checked, if anything his true valuables are in the lab next door and that was not even disturbed. Not so much as a coin missing from the house from what I could tell. There are bookshelves like these all about the house. Father had an odd system of record keeping, if someone were looking for papers or tomes, the shelves would be much more disturbed, this looks a mess, but it is "controlled chaos" as father used to say".
Vaneza looks at the coffin which is indeed closed. The lid is sealed shut. Kendra blinks, "I requested that Fatehr Grimburrow seal the coffin, I could not bear to ever see his face that way and I didn't want anyone in the village seeing it that way either".
She pauses and asks Vaneza, "I thought that as well, that perhaps it is an old foe attacking him. How though could I know?"
She then looks around the room " Oh my, some hostess I am, do any of you require drinks, I am sure the road here was long.
Plus... well... I am sorry to say but I do not recall all of your names. Father mentioned all of you several times in the past few weeks, but I am not sure who is who. I assume you all know me to be Kendra van Richten, yes?"
Sterling looks around the room as the others talk. At first glance it does indeed look a mess. It definitely Dr Richten's usual filing system from his University office. The cleric seems surprised to see the coffin already sealed when Vaneza tries to open it. That changes to a cryptic look of puzzlement, or possibly dismay, at the description of the look of fear frozen on the Doctor's face in death.
'There are indeed creatures that can attack you in your sleep. And dark spells as well.'
Sterling steps forward and holds out a hand to Kendra. While still somber, his face actually holds a trace of a small smile.
"Miss van Richten, I am Sterling Starshadow. The Doctor has told me so much about you I feel as if I already know you. A pleasure to meet you at last. I am sorry it had to be under such circumstances. My condolences on your loss."
"The doctor and I have discussed his dreams, and many other things, over the time I've known him. This is the first I have heard of night-terrors though. But his final letter was rather,... cryptic. Although that was not entirely uncommon for him."
Sterling turns to glance at the coffin before continuing.
"It is too bad the coffin is already sealed. As a, friend, I would have liked the distinct honor of providing Pharasma's final blessings personally to ensure his safe journey to the Boneyard."
"You are most kind. Please, do not trouble yourself on our account. You may have been expecting visitors, but I doubt you expected a small army to descend upon you at such a time. Is there anything that WE can do for YOU?"
Sterling glances over his shoulder at Teofila and Cole.
His eye glances indicate that he is about talked out. For the moment. They know him just well enough, they figure He probably wants them to introduce themselves.
The almost giant offers a bow to Kendra.
"Ma'am, he did talk of you, but I've not had the pleasure of meetin ya in person.".
He ponders what he has heard. "If it were night terrors in truth that took him... then why would ya have been findin the door to tha house open?"
With a shrug as if manners mean little to him, even if he is somewhat aware of them. "Me ma did name me Bastion. But most folks be callin me Ogre. I think they be just jealous of me good looks."
He is about to step back to allow rooms for others to do there own introductions when he pauses and asks "Harrowstone prison? What could ya be tellin me about it? If we be here now anyway, perhaps it would do with a looking at?"
Kendra smiles as Sterling takes her hand, "When Father Grimburrow arrives, you can speak with him about opening the coffin for a blessing right before the burial, I am sure my father would appreciate that. I would just ask that you wait for me to leave the gravesite before you do so".
She shrugs at the question of help, "You are guests, father had rooms in the house and the lab ready for you. It will be a tight squeeze two by two, but for a short period of time, I hope you would be alright with that still under the circumstances.
Since you won't be able to help with... well, whatever he wanted help with, perhaps you can assist me in organizing his papers?"
She chuckles at Ogre's comment, "Agreed, few humans possess such beauty as you!
I know, it vexes me as well that the door was ajar. I wonder, did I leave it open and forget? Did father go out after me and come back forgetting to close it? With nothing missing though, I don't think it was a robbery. If it was, whatever was taken is something I did not know existed.
Perhaps if you assist with his papers he may well have some notes on Harrowstone that could enlighten us. There are only three things I know about Harrowstone: one, it was a prison that closed when father was a young boy due to a fire that damaged the structure; two, father had been looking into it as a pet retirement project, after all it is only a fifteen minute walk away; and three, ever since it closed, the locals believed it to be haunted. If you stay, it might be worth talking to some of the older townsfolk about it.
I remember there was a nursery rhyme we used to sing as children and I believe it was about the prison, but I don't know how it was connected.
Put her body on the bed.
Take a knife and lop her head.
Watch the blood come out the pipe.
Feeds the stirge, so nice and ripe.
Drops of red so sparkly bright.
Splatters spell her name just right.
With a hammer killed his wife.
Now he wants to claim your life.
Tricksy father tells a lie.
Listen close or you will die.
Her darkened soul blocks the light.
Stealing your voice gives her great delight.
Eight feet tall with teeth of steel.
Run away fast or you'll be his next meal.
Swollen neck and twisted head.
With his hands on your neck you'll soon be dead.
As a child it was fun to sing when jumping rope, but now that I understand the lyrics, it is quite dark indeed".
Cole winces when Ogre points out the obvious that he missed.
Hearing about the Harrowstone fire, Cole perks up. He makes a new point…
”Maybe we were each brought here for specific reasons. A fire in Harrowstone? I’m sort of an expert on such things. Maybe the Doctor intended to involve us directly in his investigation on Harrowstone. It was a prison? If someone burned it down on purpose, then they might not want the Doctor looking into such things. It is just a theory of course. Oh…I’m Cole. Im an associate of the Church of Pharasma.”