"Hmm, so your husband continued to serve as Warden, even in death? Is that normal?"
Bastion listens to the sad ghost.
"But you don't know why you remain here? Are you awaiting your husband's spirit? It sounds like you know he was near, but you say he recently vanished?"
Sterling hangs his hooded head as he listens to the spirits tale.
Such conflict.
Technically, the remains of the warden's wife was an abomination at worst. A spirit resisting her final judgement. Even if well-intentioned, and not done specifically to avoid said judgement.
At best, she was being held here as a spiritual prisoner, whether by her own design or outside influence, and still being denied her final judgement. Still quite unacceptable.
Despite the demeanor that he generally presents, the young priest does care for the spirits of those under his care. Even if they do tend be quite annoying while still living.
Inside his hood, Sterling gives a small smile as he recalls being told that becoming a priest would be boring.
"Madam. The fact that your husband's spirit continued to guard and control the spirits of the prisoners after his death speaks well of his character. A fact that Pharasma will surely take into account at his final reckoning. But you spoke of something changing. DO you know what has happened to your husband? Recently?"
"Can you give us an idea of what the lower floor looks like and where these convicts were kept?" Kenzo asks.
Zek'Karis relaxes a bit when he sees the priest talking to the creature. There must be some exception for good spirits? Maybe? He is a bit confused, but holds steady. His stance is definitely less tense now.
Teofila thinks on the ghost situation in the old prison. Nothing inspired comes to mind though.
She does have one idea though, born of common sense maybe. Leaning in close to Sterling, she tries to get her somewhat disorganized thoughts into order with an analogy.
"It is the case that purpose can anchor a ghost to a location yes? Remember the runes we found outside? What if they called upon her husband to act as a sort of guardian spirit with the purpose of containing the other ghosts here?"
"The runes had been tampered with. Maybe this is why Mrs. Hawkran has felt a change. But, even with that change, the other ghosts are not simply free to roam. It's as if things were loosened. They can rattle more than before, but there wasn't a complete break."
"Could it be Mrs. Hawkran is now the one maintaining the barrier, even if she does not know it? Have you ever seen a stream dam naturally due to debris catching at a spot, which catches more debris until the dam is built? What if Mrs. Hawkran's belief in her husband's spirit is keeping all the ghosts contained now? She has inadvertently replaced her husband?"
"If something like this is so, we need her in place until the other spirits are dealt with. She is the natural dam here."
Sterling blinks, and turns to look at Teo in surprise.
"Is, is it possible?"
"That could be what the cult was trying to do. But for what ends? Releasing the dark spirits without some way of containing them to do what they wanted seems like a strange idea. Unless they seek something below and the ghosts are just as apt to attack them as they would be to attacking us." Kenzo muses over the various implications.
Puzzling it out loud Cole throws his two coppers into the discussion.
”Could it be possible…and this is from my inexpert view of such things…could the ghostly disturbance here be created/instigated for a grander purpose? Either a distraction for the missing professor, or as some kind of supernatural energy source for a greater reason? Those odd runes seem to be causing, controlling, or creating a big disruption…spiritually speaking. The question isn’t just how, but WHY. Only a few reasons could make sense, unless the creators of this situation are just as insane as the former inmates.”
",...The question isn’t just how, but WHY. Only a few reasons could make sense, unless the creators of this situation are just as insane as the former inmates.”
Sterling snaps his fingers and points at Cole.
"Yes."
Bastion just scratches his head. "A mystery indeed. And well beyond my knowledge."
Puzzling it out loud Cole throws his two coppers into the discussion.
”Could it be possible…and this is from my inexpert view of such things…could the ghostly disturbance here be created/instigated for a grander purpose? Either a distraction for the missing professor, or as some kind of supernatural energy source for a greater reason? Those odd runes seem to be causing, controlling, or creating a big disruption…spiritually speaking. The question isn’t just how, but WHY. Only a few reasons could make sense, unless the creators of this situation are just as insane as the former inmates.”
"This may be a bit pretentious from me, but I was tracking them for some time, maybe this was to slow me down. Or just general 'Oh, look, undead, lets do some chaos while we continue on our way' kind of thing." Zek comments
"It may be some kind of refuelling they needed and the 'master ghost' was simply 'closest' to the surface. Undead cult using negative energy of which this place is full is not something far-fetched and they may not even be aware of the consequences.And whatever the reason, we now deal with the consequences. So, let's deal!
Mrs Warden, can you tell us what needs to be done to cleanse this place? What to focus on? And also, would you submit voluntarily to Pharasma after we do this?"
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Harrowstone Prison
Bastion listens to the sad ghost.
"But you don't know why you remain here? Are you awaiting your husband's spirit? It sounds like you know he was near, but you say he recently vanished?"
"Madam. The fact that your husband's spirit continued to guard and control the spirits of the prisoners after his death speaks well of his character. A fact that Pharasma will surely take into account at his final reckoning. But you spoke of something changing. DO you know what has happened to your husband? Recently?"
”Until recently, the spirit of my husband, trapped so near yet so far in the dungeons below, had contained the ghosts of these foul prisoners.
A few days ago, unsettling visitors, men and women in dark robes who spoke only in whispers, came to Harrowstone and began to work strange magic around the building’s foundations. Though unable to leave this room, I was nonetheless able to observe through the walls to the northwest as these strange people inscribed runes along the ground. I also witnessed the sad end of the man who had visited by day that I assume, was trying to stop them. He was slain by foul magic wielded by the leader of the black-robed villains.
Later that night, after they murdered the man, the black-robed cultists finished their ritual. Whatever they did, they did so out of sight of my view through the walls, but I felt the repercussions immediately. It felt like a horrific storm, yet one with no wind that chilled the flesh. This windstorm chilled the soul, it felt to me as if my very being was being pulled apart. Yet the horrific sensation passed in an instant... and when it had, the presence of my husband’s spirit was gone”. She pauses and weeps for a moment but regain her composure.
”I can only assume that the black-robed cultists somehow managed to abduct my husband’s spirit, for since that hateful day I’ve neither seen nor felt any sign of either my husband or the black-robed cultists.
Every day since that event, the spirits of the murderers and sadists trapped within the walls of Harrowstone have grown more and more powerful. It must indeed have been my husband’s presence that kept the other haunts in line, and with his ghost gone, they would have escaped to wreak unimaginable havoc, had I not stepped in to do the job my husband, until recently, had done so well…
However, I can feel one particular spirit trying to find a way to reach me, he knows with me gone, nothing will stop them from gaining freedom from Harrowstone”.
”Could it be possible…and this is from my inexpert view of such things…could the ghostly disturbance here be created/instigated for a grander purpose? Either a distraction for the missing professor, or as some kind of supernatural energy source for a greater reason? Those odd runes seem to be causing, controlling, or creating a big disruption…spiritually speaking. The question isn’t just how, but WHY. Only a few reasons could make sense, unless the creators of this situation are just as insane as the former inmates.”
Vesorianna shrugs, "I do not know the purpose of the cultists ritual, perhaps it was to capture my husband, but I do not know why. If it was a distraction for a grander purpose, that purpose is taking place away from the prison as I have not seen or felt their evil presence in some time".
"Can you give us an idea of what the lower floor looks like and where these convicts were kept?" Kenzo asks.
"I was never privy to the specific names or locations of prisoners, but my husband was a meticulous record keeper. If the paperwork did not burn in the fire then the records should be able to tell you who was kept in which area of the prison with great detail.
If they are trapped as I am trapped, then they cannot roam very far from where they were imprisoned".
"This may be a bit pretentious from me, but I was tracking them for some time, maybe this was to slow me down. Or just general 'Oh, look, undead, lets do some chaos while we continue on our way' kind of thing.
It may be some kind of refuelling they needed and the 'master ghost' was simply 'closest' to the surface. Undead cult using negative energy of which this place is full is not something far-fetched and they may not even be aware of the consequences.
And whatever the reason, we now deal with the consequences. So, let's deal!
Mrs Warden, can you tell us what needs to be done to cleanse this place? What to focus on? And also, would you submit voluntarily to Pharasma after we do this?"
Vesorianna smiles, "I knew the town would send Guardsmen who would right the wrongs of the past!
As I said, I don’t know much about the exact nature of the prisoners, their ghosts, or the dangers to be found elsewhere in Harrowstone, but I can feel among the hateful dead eight distinct and powerful personalities. Though one has gone silent in the past few days, I do not know if he is biding his time to come after me once more or if he found a way to escape.
Regardless, I suspect that these correspond to the eight most dangerous criminals who were imprisoned in Harrowstone at the time of the fire. I believe that if you guards can confront and defeat the unquiet spirits of the eight key prisoners, I’ll be able to contain them and keep them from manifesting again.
Moreover, if you can bring to her a symbol of her husband’s office over the prison, his badge of office would work best, I suspect it’s hidden somewhere in the dungeons below; I will be able to banish the haunts from Harrowstone entirely. What happens after that I of course cannot be certain.
If you can find objects of value that once belonged to the eight spirits, you can use those objects against the eight souls. I suggest checking the prison’s property room to the southeast, but beware, while these objects will aid in defeating the deathless inmates, they are likely also cursed by the unholy link to the long-dead criminals, and care should be taken when using the objects lest they corrupt you as well”.
Eyes wide, Cole looks surprised for once, rather than surly and constipated.
"You are a wonder madam! I can see why your husband chose you as a wife. Strength and honor are your hallmarks, obviously! We shall endeavor to fix Harrowstone, and send these monsters to their final rest. Its the least we can do."
"A badge of office. That might be difficult to see in the wreckage. We will need to look carefully." Kenzo says as he wonders how hard such a thing would be to find in a destroyed prison.
Sterling had been standing, hooded head bowed as if in contemplation, or prayer, as he and the others spoke with the spirit of the wardens wife.
At one point, While the warden's wife is describing her observed activities of the robed folks around the prison, he goes perfectly still.
Well, not quite perfectly. Anyone actually watching the priest, instead of the fascinating undead apparition before them, could notice him shaking slightly. As if from fear, or rage.
The moment passes, and when he lifts his hooded head to rejoin the conversation he acts and sounds (almost) as bored as usual.
(I mean, it's not every day your average cleric of Pharasma gets to hold a civilized conversation with those who have already passed on!)
"My companion does not give idle praise madam. You indeed deserve to be rewarded when you walk the Spiral. Nor does he make promises lightly. Some good news to bolster your,... spirits. Fear not the powerful spirit you mentioned you can no longer sense. We have already dealt with that one. We will deal with the rest as well."
Sterling's hand idly brushes the belt-pouch holding his chosen prisoner's item from the vault. He makes a grunt of contemplation.
"Another decision before us. Do we delay, yet again, and return to town? By searching through the Warden's office papers, it sounds that we could likely identify the exact location of each prisoner. A Map to these fiends locations would be of much help. But, not strictly necessary. And I hesitate to delay another day, or more, to make such a map. Especially now knowing the details of the current situation."
Sterling bows slightly to the spirit of the Warden's wife.
"I would not extend her suffering, nor her endurance, more than she has already been tested. We should end these abominations post-haste, and release this dear spirit to the welcoming arms of Pharasma, and her well-deserved reward."
Bastion watches, listens and considers. "Many a decision made in haste may be regretted at length." he suggests.
"We have these items, and know they bear risks as well as rewards. If we could tie each to a particular area, we would minimise our risks, while still extracting the highest rewards. These cultists they have not been seen since they..claimed... the warden.
He tips his hand to the ghost "Maam, we will try to find and free yer husband. But first we must deal with those he caged in life. Ay am sure he would be both mighty proud that you be holdin to her work, and mighty distressed that he be leavin such a burden to you. We won't be too long, but I think we should be trying to work out where each of these here perished prisoners were located and be only takin the relevant tokens to each."
"The locations may mean nothing if prisoners were free in a riot. I'd go search for them in places they died. Or where there are energies that might hold them. Such as medical or torture chamber. Maybe graveyard for that dwarf looking for skulll fragments."
Zek is thinking on what places would be interesting to which prisoner.
" A library for the mage. Or alchemist shop. Anyhow, we can clear this level now and look through the papers in the evening. Lady, do any of the spirits roam outside even if temporary or just in the vicinity or are free to roam the grounds? We have militia guards close by."
Sergei looked less thrilled by the revelations. "The council would appreciate this information," Sergei said. "Ostensibly, that is exactly what they sent us here to discover."
"These whispering cultists give me pause though. Whatever they've set in motion, they'd be fools not to leave someone behind to observe it. Any of the council could be one of them, or anyone else in town for that matter. Who do we trust enough to pass this information to? Kendra? Grimburrow?"
Cole waves his glowing sword in the direction of the rest of the prison.
"We cannot waste time debating everything! We need to act. Choosing every decision 'by committee' is hurting us. We need to move on...by choosing a leader: I suggest Sterling. He's a pain in the @$$, but I trust him to do what is best for everyone involved right now. We need decisiveness. If he fails us or dies, then we choose another later. Either way, we move forward."
"We don't need a leader, just general understanding of our goals. The council will hear about this in due time, when we return to Ravengro. Why does it matter if someone in the council or even town is in the cult? What can they do? And if they come in the open, one less cultist in the world."
Zek shows his fangs.
"We have the task for today, we already gave papers away, if some cultist gets to them before we do, a bit less information for us, but nothing crucial, we're destroying the ghosts here, right? So, let's get to it."
With one last look at Mrs Hawkrane "We will come back." unclear if that is a promise...or a threat.
"I think we are generally doing fine as we are. I also don't think a cultist in the council makes much sense. This place has been here a long time. Whatever changed was recent. Probably in or around the time of the Professor's death." Kenzo says.
"The worst prisoners were all kept below this floor, yes? Have we fully cleared everything up here? If not, let's do that, and then we can decide if we should head back to town and check over the papers we sent back. Otherwise, we can at least start working our way through the lower floor, and if we run into any sort of trouble with finding certain prison cells, then we can discuss a return trip." Zyblina offers, hoping her suggestion of compromise gets everybody moving in the right direction.
"We're largely following Sterling's guidance already," Sergei shrugged. "Codifying it sounds fine, but I don't expect it to change much one way or the other."
Cole waves his glowing sword in the direction of the rest of the prison.
"We cannot waste time debating everything! We need to act. Choosing every decision 'by committee' is hurting us. We need to move on...by choosing a leader: I suggest Sterling. He's a pain in the @$$, but I trust him to do what is best for everyone involved right now. We need decisiveness. If he fails us or dies, then we choose another later. Either way, we move forward."
Sterling's hooded head turns slowly towards Cole.
"Thank You?? I think?"
The cleric shrugs.
"Everyone makes valid points. Whether the rest agree with them or not. Most of us agree that time is at least not our friend, if not already an hour-glass-is-running situation. What we have discovered searching the ground floor has already proven to be invaluable. Even if we only now realize the value of the Warden's office papers. We should continue to make progress, finish exploring the ground floor and discover what else we can. Once we have cleared that,..."
Everyone can almost HEAR the eye-roll from under his hood.
",...THEN we can continue to discuss this in committee, or whatever."
Sterling gives the spirit of the Wardens' wife a slight but polite bow.
"Hold to your courage madam. We shall return, and strive to release your husband, so you may both journey onward together."
Sterling turns to leave the room. As he exits he can be heard muttering,...
"Like I want to be the 'Leader'?!? It's already like herding cats!"
"Like I want to be the 'Leader'?!? It's already like herding cats!"
"Try it when half of them are spirits trying to take over your body," Sergei said with a smirk as he followed the priest out.
Frowning, Cole just flaps his hand.
”Talk…talk…talk…”
"Cole, are you coming, or are you gonna just stand there and yap?" Zy calls from out in the hallway.
Bowing elegantly to Zyblina, Cole walks off in the direction everybody is heading...his sword still glowing and smoking lightly in the darkness.
Teofila walks along with the others thinking to herself. She doesn't really have a firm opinion on the question of whether or not to go looking through the documents again before getting too far into the mess underground. It is true it would be helpful to know where the various spirits are according to the records. It does also make sense though that during the riot the then prisoners who would become the spirits would have been able to move to other locations before dying.
She's instead caught up with a new inconsistency regarding Doctor Van Richten's death.
So it seems the doctor was killed here rather than at home as Kendra told us. Not that Kendra isn't to believed, but I should have her tell me again about the circumstances of her arrival home that night. There may yet be something there...
"Like I want to be the 'Leader'?!? It's already like herding cats!""Try it when half of them are spirits trying to take over your body," Sergei said with a smirk as he followed the priest out.
Sterling pauses, very briefly, and makes a small 'Hmm' of interest. Or possibly amusement.
"Let's continue then."
Zek continues the exploration fading out of sight as soon as he moved beyond the next door.
Harrowstone Prison
Vesorianna smiles tightly, "I shall persevere Guardsmen, do what you must, I do not believe a single day will break my will, but a week...." she trails off.
In direct response to Zek's query
"Lady, do any of the spirits roam outside even if temporary or just in the vicinity or are free to roam the grounds? We have militia guards close by."
"No, they are as bound by location as I am, for now".
In direct response to Zyblina's question
"The worst prisoners were all kept below this floor, yes?"
"I believe that one or more may have been kept upstairs, those whose crimes were not as violent, but I am not so familiar with the individuals as their crimes as you would be Guardsman".
The group is able to clear the rest of this floor with little disturbance, a few haunted branding irons in the branding room, the sound of sobs an chains rattling in the receiving room do little to slow your strong and well rested group down. However, evidence of the branding room is simply further proof that the restless spirits of these prisoners did indeed have a a bone to pick with the powers that be.
The final room to be explored is, or was a chapel to Pharasma. A rectangular chamber with once thick cobwebs now lying on the floor. The size of the cobwebs suggest that the spiders that once resided within were larger than the average house spider, lack of food likely drove them away from this place as a long term home. A brief search of the far cabinet reveals a small treasure trove of useful items: (i) a scroll of lesser restoration and (ii) a wand of cure light wounds (with 17 charges remaining).
---
Despite a few haunts, the first floor was largely devoid of any substantial threats.
The group has yet to attempt to head upstairs. A portion of the dungeon area and one of the hateful eight was encountered and destroyed down there by the group already.
It is about noon once the ground floor is finally cleared.
"I suggest we head upstairs for now. We should use as much of the day as we can and then we can go through what we find over dinner." Kenzo suggests.
"Agreed," Sergei said
"I'll sneak up. Come if you hear me scream."
Zek appears next to the stairs before going into the shadows again.
"That be soundin like a solid plan ta me." agrees Bastion.
"Let us see the view from above."
Sterling becomes almost positively ,... happy,... for a moment, upon discovery of the scroll and the wand. He swiftly coughs, and becomes his mono-toned self once again.
The scroll and wand he tucks away for safekeeping, and use as needed.
The cleric nods agreement with the others.
"Let us not waste daylight. The spirits are weaker during the day. Even if it may only be because our own fears are lessened under the light of the sun."
The cleric moves into line with the others as they (cautiously?) ascend the stairs,...
"Yes, upstairs is good."
Sighing, Cole follows everyone up the stairs.
"Upstairs sounds good. Once we clear that, we can decide what to do next." Zy says in agreement with the rest of the group.
Harrowstone Prison - Top Floor
Zek heads upstairs and after a time you hear no sound and proceed after him. On the way up, you pass a guard area blocked from the cellblock by an arc of iron bars. Within sits an old wooden table and a few chairs.
He stares around at the sight or many many prison doors up here, Zek stands among the wooden benches of a large mess hall. The benches are now stacked in a jumble and others are overturned in disarray. Weakened by fire, the entire east wall has collapsed away, creating an unintended entryway to a wooden deck beyond. The view of the lake beyond would be beautiful if the silence were not so eerie.
Zyblina
Sterling Starshadow
Kenzo Hagetora
Cole Burns
Sergei the Haunted
Bastian 'Ogre' Zorovich
Zek
Teofila Agarici
Kenzo, Sergei, and Zek all hear the sound of flapping wings, intermittent, but absolutely not your imagination, coming from that area where the wall crumbled.
Zek throws a board piece along the floor to simulate steps and hides again
"Nice view." Sterling says softly, peering out the hole in the wall. Clearly appreciating the eerie-ness.
"But best, at least for the largest of us, to maybe not get too close to viewing it." rumbles Bastion.
"Or perhaps we might view it a bit more closely than anticipated."
Sterling "Hmph"'s in acknowledgment.
Then steps behind the burly Bastion.
Trying not to get distracted by the burn pattern of the building, Cole keeps his mouth shut and his sword ready.
Zek throws a board piece along the floor to simulate steps and hides again
After waiting for a haunt or ghost or *something* to react to the presence of his companions, Zek creeps into the area, keeping close to the wall, trying to check the broken off part for anything important. Or maybe just to get a full view of the area.