Cole dismisses the fire from his blade, sheaths it, and steps back while ignoring the farmer and his idiotic fear.
”I prefer cremation myself. Teofila? Remember that. Burn my remains until only ash if I croak. Maybe I can reincarnate as an actual phoenix if Im lucky…”
Ogre offers a shrug.
"The doctor is dead. He ins't likely needin his heart no more." state the big man.
"Angel? Devil? Who can tell. Me heritage is so muddled up that the gods alone know what knocked up what way back in me grandads day."
He glares at Gibbs. "But did I say anything about drawing steel? I think not. The only steel we will need today is in a spade. I be havin no problems with yer rituals. And if they be making a difference, then whats in the box ain't being the man I knew."
As the tensions relaxed, Sergei let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and rejoined the group.
"Cremation has always seemed more practical to me as well," he said, agreeing with Cole. Struck by a sudden uncomfortable thought, he looked down at his hands and wondered if he would actually burn. He laughed to himself. Perhaps he could be made into jewelry.
"I think we should defer to Kendra in this." Kenzo says and prepares to continue on.
Gibs glares back at Ogre, "You didn't need to mention steel at all, yer friends drawing their naked blades said it all..."
He nods at Vaneza, "Ye can git in line behind Kendra if ya like Lass".
Most of the townsfolk disperse. The rest of you along with Gibs shuffling behind in the back make your way to the Restlands. There an open grave awaits the good Doctor. Standing next to it are two sweaty dirty workmen holding shovels and several feet of rope. Father Grimburrow speaks the proper burial rites of the Pharasman religion. Kendra produces a single black rose from her coat pocket and places it on the coffin.
"Father, you are the greatest man I know. You will always be a shining example of bravery and friendship. You will live on in the guidance and wisdom you have spread among the people's of Ustalav. You lived in darkness to bring the rest of us light. Rest, tell Mother I love her. I will see you both one day again". She stands, weeping, Shandra takes her hand and leads her away from the Restlands.
As she passes Gibs he says something to her in a low voice and places a hand upon her shoulder, she nods and moves along. Once she gets far enough away Gibs approaches. "Well, nothin' else for it but ta' get it done". He produces from his jacket a small sickle head of cold iron and an ashwood stake.
Father Grimburrow nods to one of the workers, "Open it that last rites may be performed by Acolyte Starshadow for his friend". The man grimaces and places his shovel on the ground and picks up a crowbar from a wheelbarrow.
It takes him a few minutes to pry open the seal. Gibs looks down expectantly as the coffin lid is opened revealing... nothing, the coffin is empty!
Cole’s face distorts in anger.
”S#@*.”
Cole’s face distorts in anger.
”S*#&.”
"Indeed."
Sterling actually moves his ever-present hair from in front of his face to get a better look.
"Oh Doctor. You always did know how to make things, interesting."
There is a hint of a faint smile upon his lips.
As Sterling stands slowly up, he pulls his large hood back over his head, hiding his features from view.
With his hood drawn to point covering his face, and his tattered traveling cloak fluttering in the slight breeze, and once again arriving as a strange occurrence disturbs a small town, it is easy to see why commoners have nicknamed him, 'The Raven'.
"Friend.. not friends. And " Ogre turns to look to check the rapier is away "it is gone now. Let's let bygones be bygones."
He patiently waits as the service is conducted and then peers into the empty coffin along with the others. "See. I told you it was too light." he adds in a triumphant voice as he nods to himself.
Then pauses and looks again. He borrows a shovel and pokes the "empty" coffin, to make sure it really is empty, and not just some illusion. "I'd not put it past some folks to play a nasty trick like that." mutters the big man.
"So... is he really dead? And his body stolen? Or did he not really die at all? Or.. something worse?"
Silently, Sterling walks around the open grave and empty coffin.
The gravedigger with the crowbar's face goes white and he faints at the revelation, damn near falling into the grave, only the quick hands of his partner in dirt prevents a fatal accident.
Gibs spits, "Damn. I telled ye, didn't I? Sommat wasn't right".
Ogre pokes at the empty coffin and hits the bottom, no invisible corpses are resident.
Father Grimburrow's eye narrow, "That's not possible. I sealed the coffin myself. Kendra and Shandra sat vigil the last day and a half or so since. Even if one of them could have opened the coffin and taken his body, they've no reason to do so".
Gibs spits once more, "Harrowstone. Ah been sayin' it. The Council shoulda called o' the crown ta' raze the place years ago. Payin' taxes ta' the crown fer nothin'. Yer sure it was airtight Father? Mebbe, if tha' Doctor was turned into a Bloodsucker he coulda' escaped in mist form".
Father Grimburrow shakes his head, "Airtight... yes. I will need to take this revelation to the Council". A look of significant concern crosses his face, he looks up at the party assembled. "I know that you have all traveled a long way and are friends of the Doctor, would you mind staying in town for a few more days? Kendra could certainly use the company and frankly if you are proteges of Doctor van Richten, Ravengro may need your help".
Sterlings inspection yields no clue that sheds further light on this mystery.
Teofila introduces herself to Kendra by her name, and as a university student whom her father had mentored. She doesn't say more at the present since there's no lack of conversation, and her mind is preoccupied by the possibility of a crime, murder, being the cause of the Doctor's death.
I suppose an assassination isn't out of the question, but who might want such a thing? And how might it have been done? No physical wounds. No disturbance of the house, at least nothing noticed by Kendra. The door left open. The Doctor seemingly terrified at the time of his death.
There are conflicts among these things. Any professional assassin would know to riffle the house to make it seem like a robbery, that's basic. Besides, most professional killers use weapons. If no weapon was used, poison or magic are the next two most likely means. Poison is a problem because it would need to have been ingested. However, could a needle mark have gone unnoticed?"
Teofila puts that detail aside for the moment, as it is unlikely to ever be answered at this point.
Ingested poison would need to be added to food or drink, and then consumed, probably unknowingly. That would require either access to the house multiple times, or a long period of time when the Doctor would predictably be alone. Those possibilities don't align with Kendra's account of the day. But, coercion is possible, forcing the Doctor to eat or drink the poison. But, threatening a man into knowingly committing suicide is not a strong plan. It is difficult to predict ahead of time how threats, whatever they may be, will be received. To know that a particular threat would certainly work would require some degree of personal knowledge of the victim, and this is a very small town, probably with vanishingly few people who could fit that picture.
Magic presents fewer logistical problems. But again, How many people here would know enough of it to use it to kill in this particular way? What could the curse or necromancy have been?
Teofila also puts this aside for the moment, thinking it would require more research, possibly by someone more knowledgeable about such things.
But, then there is the open door. If a killer was smart enough to know poisons well, or magic well, they would be more intelligent than average. They might have counted on the Doctor's bloodless death to divert attention away from murder without needing to toss the house. But if they are so clever with everything, why make the mistake of leaving the door open at the very end, pointing directly toward an intruder? Perhaps it was a mistake, or could it be the killer sending a message? Were they communicating their own impunity? If so, was it arrogance, or are they truly untouchable?
At the end of her ruminations, Teofila has a few scenarios that she thinks most likely.
First, magic as the means, but done by someone from out of town, maybe already gone. Either necromancy or enchantment plus poison.
Second, a killer who thinks in quite different ways, throwing out conventional assumptions about how the know elements of the possible crime connect. Not a humanoid but something else. The Doctor was the Doctor after all, so his enemies might not be confined to the mundane sort.
Third, it really was heart failure, perhaps brought on by night terrors. Kendra has confirmed the Doctor suffered from them, and that they had worsened of late. But if so, what about the door?
Fourth, it is very early and little is known admittedly. But that said, Teofila likes the so far unnamed woman who knows Kendra as a suspect. She might have the kind of knowledge and access needed for the murder.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Since there are plenty of pall bearers, Teofila walks with Kendra, their arms linked. She notices the sign the woman, now known to be named Shandra, makes. She understands, and indicates so by looking up into Shandra's eyes with a lengthened gaze. It's a surprising turn for sure, but she still likes Shandra as a suspect.
When the funeral procession by the gang of locals, Teofila holds on speaking up to them, waiting to see if the problem can be otherwise resolved before taking any action herself. She can (probably) checkmate the resistance to the Doctor's burial, but it would require something that is most potent if used sparingly.
Teofila doesn't raise any objection to the compromise struck. If the old rites are effective, their application may actually not be out of line considering her second scenario for a murder. An undead killer is very possible if the potential killer isn't a humanoid. Best be thorough.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
When the coffin is opened to reveal the Doctor's body to be missing, Teofila gasps. She didn't see that coming at all.
"If we be stayin in town for a few days, I might be gettin ansi. Me feet need some action. What is this Harrowstone you are tellin us about? Might we got have a look there? And why do you think it has aught ta be doin with the doctors...vanishing?" asks Ogre.
His fingers twitch a little as if wanting to grasp the handle of the equally big sword strapped to his back. For the moment however the big blonde just looks worried.
"I am very interested in finding out what happened to the Dr. I will remain for now and help determine how such a terrible thing might have happened. If this Harrowstone might have answers, I think we should investigate it." Kenzo says as he looks angrily at the empty casket.
When the coffin was revealed to be empty, Sergei smiled behind his scarf. The Doctor lived, or at least wasn't completely dead. As grim as the implications were, there was also hope.
"I have heard many stories of Harrowstone," Sergei said to nobody in particular. "Someone I know was imprisoned there. I understand it is little more than a ruin now, but when it was in use it was a horrible place, and quite haunted even then."
"If that is where the Doctor died, his spirit may still be there. Or his body, I suppose."
Teofila's immediate conclusion is the Doctor's body has been stolen. She can see no way he could have escaped the coffin from the inside, alive or undead, without damaging it.
"Who was present when the coffin was sealed?"
Alain gazes at the coffin, looking for traces of anything
Vaneza steps back letting those with better skills investigate. Her talents will be needed when they find the target.
Gibs looks up at Ogre, "Tha' place is haunted. 'As been since so long as I c'n remember. Was haunted when I left ta' explore tha' world an it's haunted since ah'm back".
Father Grimburrow nods, "Unlike Gibs, I have served here in Ravengro my entire life. No one who was alive and an adult when it burned and shut down is alive today. Most of what the townsfolk know about it is heresay of their parents and grandparents. I would bet that the Doctor has some research in his papers about the place, I suggest you start there.
I will ask the Council to dig up whatever records they may have kept".
Gibs frowns at Sergei's statement, "T'was told tha' the Doctor died in his sleep, are ye sayin' tha' van Richten died at tha' prison an was dragged back ta' his bed!?"
Father Grimburrow respond to Teofila's question, "Myself, Aaron over there", he points to the poor passed out fellow, " and of course, Kendra.
Now don't go flying off with any wild accusations Gibs! These people just arrived today so they have no idea what happened. Kendra found her father in his bed. While he was not ancient, he was no youngster either.
If we cannot find an answer to this mystery, I may well call upon Holy Mother Verith Thestia to assist.
In the meantime, I will attend to Aaron, come speak with me at the church if you wish". He turns his attention to the two gravediggers.
Gibs frowns at Grimburrow, "We got off on tha' wrong foot strangers. If'n you wish ta' go to tha' prison, ah'll assist. Ta' me you all look wet behind tha' ears, ah've my old blade and armor oiled an ready. It's yers if ya need it. Ah meant no harm ta' Kendra, her and her ma' have always been decent Pharasma fearing folk". He takes his leave of the Restlands.
"We should return to speak to Kendra and inform her of what has occurred. We will need to remain in her good graces if we wish to view the Dr.'s papers." Kenzo suggests as he turns to head back to the house.
Brow furrowed in thought, Cole saw nothing unseemly about the coffin. He then turns and heads back without comment, rubbing his head again…obviously with his headache getting worse over this turn of events.
Sterling stands gazing thoughtfully at the empty coffin as the whirlwind of conversation spins around him.
He nods silently in acknowledgement at Gibs' offer of help going to Harrowstone.
But even the pensive cleric looks mildly surprised at hearing the name of the Holy Mother being dropped into the conversation.
As Cole walks off, Steerling says to Teofila (loud enough for anyone nearby to hear),
"Grimburrow being able to contact the Holy Mother directly, and apparently expect an answer, is,... impressive. But that could take weeks. At least."
"They're right. We should inform Kendra. And search the Doctors notes. Hopefully he left something written down explaining why he called us all here. And then I want to talk to Grimburrow."
Sterling turns and follows Cole towards the doctors house.
Bastion looks at the always grim weather, shrugs and says. "Well, maybe we could have another drop of that nice wine she served as as well. Fortify ourselves against an expedition into.."
He drops his voice for a moment before finishing with "Haunted Harrowstone."
He eyes up the rest of the group. "I be thinkin it is no coincidence that we arrive here on the very day he is found dead and then vanishes from his coffin. Nope.. this be a plan alright. Now, I know naught of any of yer, aside from me quiet friend with his noisy pets.." he adds gesturing to Alain.
"But if we are to be followin the doctors breadcrumbs, then I'd just as soon know a bit more about each of yer, and why the doctor found you of interest."
Bastion continues talking as he begins the walk back to the doctors house.
"Me.. I'm about as mixed ancestry as any of you. Bit of the angels, bit of the fey. But I'm mostly human.. or so me mum tells. Not that she knows, as I was a foundling..."
He slows down a bit. "The thing is, that I seem to be surprisingly hardly when facing down the undead. Me wounds are not as deep as you would think, and I recover from them faster than you can imagine. Which is just as well as I'm a big target." he adds with a laugh.
"I think the doctor was hoping to find out why I was resistant to the touch of death. Maybe see if he could dupliate it somehow. Bottled Bastion!" he quips.
Then looking at Vaneza he adds "Half price for the ladies."
Teofila checks a few small details about the coffin before being ready to go. First she looks at the surfaces of the coffin and lid where they join when it's closed to see if there are any signs it was opened and then resealed, extra nail holes, evidence of pry-bars being applied (more than once) like splintered wood, or perhaps the use of a glue or sealant. She also looks in the coffin for anything guaranteeing a body was in fact inside, like clothing fibers, human hair, or other bodily tissue.
The final thing she does is ask Father Grimburrow a question about the examination of the doctor's body.
"Father," Teofina says with a respectful slight tip of her head. "When Doctor van Richten's body was examined after he was found, did a physician conduct the autopsy with you, or did you do it alone?"
"I am from Andora. I hunt the things that go bump in the night. Well that is my plan. I haven't had any encounters except the mortal vermin." She pauses.
Admittedly I am not that great at investigating. That is why I was in correspondence with the Doctor learning what I can from him. Other than that I don't like talking to about myself..."
Teofila finds no trace of any fibers within the coffin. However, there is the indent in the satin of a body, faint as it may be, which is indicative that someone was in here for some time.
Father Grimburrow shakes his head, "No. We have an apothecary in the town, Jominda Fallenbridge. One of my Acolytes and I inspected the body and cast a few spells to seek to revive him, granted these spells are not as powerful as something the Holy Mother could cast, all to no avail. Their lack of effectiveness and his lack of pulse are the rationales as to why we declared him dead".
Your group exits the Restlands and returns to the Doctors house. Kendra is there, still with Shanda as you enter. Kendra smiles weakly, "Well, I am glad that is over. I am also glad you are all here. Of course, we do not know each other but your relationship with father warms my heart and I hope as we settle my father's notes and effects we can get to know each other better.
Councilor Vashian Hearthmount will be reading father's will tomorrow. I presume he has left everything to me. I have an idea of what I wish to do, but I need a few more nights to sleep on my decision.
Perhaps we can spend the rest of the day just telling stories about father and get to work on categorizing everything tomorrow? We can get lunch and dinner at the Laughing Demon, my treat".
Shanda stands, "I leave Kendra in your capable hands for now". She slowly exits the home closing the door softly behind her giving a lingering look at Teofila.
"Ahh Ms Shanda..." calls out Bastion.
"Before you go. We have some urgent and distressing news that you should also be hearing. When we got to the graveside the door doctors coffin was opened as was agreed. And there was to be no body found within. The doctor has vanished."
Cole watches Kendra closely as Ogre gives the news.
Teofila delays her departure for a couple of minutes for some privacy with Father Grimburrow. She reaches into her coat and from an inside pocket she pulls out a folded up piece of paper. She unfolds it and hands it over to Grimburrow.
The paper is heavy and durable, of the highest possible quality. The paper is a charter, a royal warrant of appointment, naming the head of the Agarici as holding the position of Royal Accuser in perpetuity. The document bears the seal of the Prince of Ustalav, but not the current one, and is dated just under 150 years ago. The paper is heavily creased, along the fold lines, showing it must have been carefully folded and unfolded innumerable times.
By way of explanation, Teofila tells Father Grimburrow "I am now the Agarici family in its entirety, so..." She lets her sentence trail off and finishes with a slight shrug. The conclusion of it is obvious to anyone.
"The reason I am notifying you and asking the questions that I am is this most recent shocking discovery. It is becoming more difficult, though not yet impossible admittedly, to believe Doctor van Richten's death was due to natural causes. But, even if it were so, his body's disappearance is a crime as nearly unexplainable through mundane means as his death."
"I will be investigating both of these happenings because I think they are linked. Finding the culprit may depend on timeliness. I support your suggestion to seek Holy Mother Verith Thestia's insights, but those would not aid us for some considerable time. I do not intend to wait. This is why I have told you who I am and what I will be doing. I want you be be reassured we are allies in this. If I ask delicate or uncomfortable questions, it is not to cause affront. It is simply the application of procedures I have been trained in my my father and Doctor van Richten himself. Nothing more should be read into them."
"First, I want to reconstruct the events of the days prior to the Doctor's death through to the present. It may tell me something about when access the the Doctor, and later his body, would be possible for some unknown party. There are many more points I intend to look into as well."
"I hope I can rely on you keep my station private, known only to us. Royal Accusers do have a certain reputation among many. It can be a hinderance to my work if the townspeople here are alarmed or frightened. I have myself seen perfectly innocent and honest people bend the truth or omit information if they think it could possibly cast them in a poor. light. It is best if I am known simply as a former student of the Doctor's who is trying to understand the recent strange events so it can ease the grief of his family. May I count on you Father?"
Teofila hustles to catch up with everyone else after leaving Father Grimburrow. Back at the van Richten residence, Teofila risks causing a bit of a scene after Shanda exits.
Standing a minute or two later, Teofila apologetically announces to the company in the room "I am very sorry, but there is something I need to attend to right away. You see, I'm trying to find any times when the coffin was left unattended, for even the shortest amount of time. I already have Father Grimburrow's account. I also need to speak with Jominda Fallenbridge, the apothecary. It is best done right away, before memories of smaller details start to fade."
By this time Teofila is already walking toward the door.
"Again, please excuse me. I will be back very soon."
It's odd that Teofila didn't seem hurried to go talk to the apothecary until Shanda left.
Once she's out the door, Teofila hurries to catch up with Shanda.
Sterling returns to the Doctors' house with the others. As they enter he pulls his hood back in deference to being a guest in another's' home.
The cleric raises an eyebrow quizzically as Teofila enters after them, and begins walking back out before she has finished speaking. He looks at Cole and shrugs.
Sterling remains silent, for now, as Ogre tells Kendra of the doctors' missing body.
As a Royal Accuser, well now I know you're a pain in the ass". He grins.
"I will certainly keep your identity private but I am curious, is it just happenstance that you are here? It must be, I suppose for he was alive but a mere few days ago!
At any rate, all I have told you is true. There is not much else to tell or to reconstruct. We assumed he died of natural causes and proceeded with a burial as befits one who was a follower of Pharasma. At no point was his corpse alone. The coffin was sealed at the request of Kendra who did not wish to see his face in a rictus of terror ever again".
The Van Richten Residence
Kendra's face drops as Ogre informs her of the empty coffin, "What, but.. but.. but how? That's impossible. Wait does this mean that perhaps he is alive... I... I'm so confused, what did Father Grimburrow say!?"
Shanda pauses to hear the news as well, she appears to hover by the door until Teofila leaves suddenly. Shanda pauses then exits.
It is mere providence I assume that has led you here? No one outside of town, that I am aware of, knew of the Doctor's death, yet".
"The Father did not know what had happened. He seemed as shocked as us, but suggested that we check the Dr's recent notes and research to see if there might be clues there. He also said that this place the Doctor had been investigating might hold some idea of what happened to the Doctor." Kenzo says in reply to Kendra.
Cole sneers again and waves his hand at the group.
”Basically were in the dark without any clue to where we landed. I at least am not amused by any of it. This all seems too coincidental to ignore something big is going on. We just need to find out what and end it for good.”
Sergei seemed concerned. "From the beginning, it seemed odd that so many people would arrive from so many far away places at the exact same time, precicely when these events began. Too late to prevent them, but exactly in time to take on the aftermath. Further, all of us have reasons to get involved, and an impressive array of skills. Our presence is clearly not coincidental."
"His death is only days past, but some of us took longer than that to get here. That implies the Doctor planned for his own death, and summoned us as a contingency."
Snorting, Cole retorts.
”You’re just speculating! Who knows who or WHAT might be hind all of this. The Doctor could tell some scary stories…but they were all at least partially true. I wouldn’t put it past some mysterious master-mind lich or vampire lord behind all this for kicks and giggles in order to have some fun in this century. Or some demon-cult looking to collect souls for a coven of hags. Really people: We need to see further down the rabbit hole before we stir the rabbit stew. One thing the Doctor always said was to ‘keep your mind open and your mouth shut…until you had something concrete and real to say.’ Speculating this early could get one or more of us killed quickly because they were assuming one thing that was wrong. And I’m sure you know when ‘assuming’ you only make an Ass out of U and Me.”
The Van Richten Residence
Kendra listens to the back and forth intently, she wipes her eyes as tears well up, "Well, then... I guess the celebration of my father's life will have to wait.
It's time to dig into his papers, like Kenzo said, maybe there are clues in here which will help us solve the mystery instead of speculating. I will admit, even though I have trained in the wizardly arts, I had very little interest in my father's work. Let's say his field of expertise never interested me much, in fact, as a little girl I was quite scared of it!
That said, I don't understand how this turn of events could have taken place, is there some sort of creature that could do this, is... is... is my father turned into what he tried so hard to destroy?"
Bastion steps forward and puts an arm around Kendra.
"I hope not. Rest assured, even if his body has been turned, somewhere the Doctor himself will still be fighting on. We will do what we can to either return him to you, or lay him to a final rest."
He glances at the rest of the group.
"Right."
Then after a moment he adds "Two two avenues of approach we have at the moment are his documents, and the old prison. Given we are here now, it might pay to check his documents first."
And I’m sure you know when ‘assuming’ you only make an Ass out of U and Me.”[/b]
"Am I assuming? How many days ago did you receive your letter from the doctor?" Sergei asked Cole. "And how long do you think it took the messenger to reach you from here?"
"He knew he was in danger. He wrote letters to all of us to bring us here, and then died shortly after. I doubt he planned to die, but he certainly planned for us to be here just in case."
"I haven't speculated about who, or what, is behind this. I am speculating that Van Richten knew, and summoned us for that reason. You could very well be right about the conspiracies of vampire lords. In my experience this certainly feels similar."
Sterling frowns slightly at the banter, nods at Ogre's words to Kendra, and raises an eyebrow at Sergei.
"They are correct. Forewarned, or just well-prepared, Your father seems to have gathered the right group. We will determine what happened. After that?" Sterling shrugs.
"We will set it right. One way or another."
The cleric turns to look at Sergei. His face and voice are still neutral,
"How much experience have you had with vampire lords ser'? I have yet to meet one. That I am aware of."
His question isn't one she can give an easy answer to.
"Well, it isn't happenstance, but that isn't due to any of us. All of us received a letter from the Doctor asking us to come here. The letter was vague. He only mentioned vivid dreams of late, and needing help with something. He didn't say what exactly."
"So we all came independently at his request. Not a coincidence, but we don't know why."
"It may be there is nothing to learn regarding the disposition of the Doctor's remains as you say. But I'll still ask them. There may be details that seem unimportant, but when viewed from another perspective have significance. Even if not, at least it will firmly eliminate soem possibilities.
Of all the things Shanda might have said, what she says is the last thing Teofila expected. She's put off balance by it, cocking her head slightly with a puzzled expression.
[b]"Have we met before? You knew my father?"
Teofila continues on to answer Shanda's question. it's just spills out she's so off-guard.
"No, none of us knew the Doctor was dead. He sents all of us letters asking us to come."
Of all the things Shanda might have said, mentioning her father is the thing Teofila expected the least. It puts Teofila off-balance. She tilts her head slightly with a puzzled expression, as if she isn't sure she heard correctly.
"Have we met before? You knew my father?"
She's discombobulated enough to just go ahead and answer question right away.
"We all received a letter from the Doctor asking us to come to Ravengro. Don't know why exactly, he didn't say. None of us expected he would be dead."
Then after a moment he adds "Two two avenues of approach we have at the moment are his documents, and the old prison. Given we are here now, it might pay to check his documents first."
Alain nods at his traveling companion’s words
“Knowledge is a valuable weapon, especially where the undead are concerned. The doc knew his business, and whether he is here still or his ka has flown we shall follow his path to the clearing”
Cole just shakes his head and rolls his eyes.
”Arrogance will get you killed just as fast as assumptions, I can assure you. I want to focus on the location that burned. My abilities will be more inclined in that direction: Are there any maps of the place here? Maybe a written account of the place’s last night when it burned? Any living relatives nearby of any survivors? How far away is it? My knowledge of the area is limited I’m afraid.”
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"How much experience have you had with vampire lords ser'? I have yet to meet one. That I am aware of."
Sergei paused for a long moment, considering how to answer. "Unfortunately, quite a bit. At the time, I did not realize that is what I was dealing with. In retrospect, it could not be clearer. My family... they were all killed... at my wedding." He sounded calm as he spoke. There was emotion there, but very distant and subdued. "It was a long time ago, in a different life."
"Although that does seem like a fascinating story, I think we should be focused on the Dr's story and remain open to all ideas of what might have happened to him. Kendra, would you like to bring his papers out to the main room or should we move into his study or office to begin our search?" Kenzo says as he tries to refocus on the search for the answers they need. "The Dr. faced many foes beyond the undead. And who can say what dark forces lie in this facility that he was investigating."
Vaneza remains quiet in the back of the room.
,..."It was a long time ago, in a different life."
Sterling's face remains impassive, but he clearly surprised. He obviously had not expected such a direct answer.
"My condolences."
The cleric nods at Kenzo.
"He is correct. We should focus on the Doctor's notes. Let us see what information he has for us. Even if he did not leave us a map Cole, he may have left other details to aid us when we examine the place."
Cole nods, acknowledging and agreeing with Sterling’s point.
The Bulk of the Party
Kendra shrugs at Kenzo's suggestion, "I hate to say it but, this entire place is his office!
He worked with so many tomes, books, scrolls, and random jotted down notes that I could never track what he was working on or whether he was working on several things at once.
Lately he had become very interested in Dreams, but that was all he said. He contacted all of you because of that research. Which, in my opinion, seemed the most mundane thing that he ever worked on, at least until he started having nightmares. Or perhaps he always had nightmares and only now just shared them with me.
I think the best way to approach this is to try and categorize all of this stuff into the useful versus the less relevant category. From there, you can start the actual research.
Once we're done here, I'll show you what's inside his lab. I promise, there's no paperwork in there. Just some of his old gear and a chest or two.
While you all are organizing, I'll dig up those keys".