"Seems simple enough. Shall we plan on heading out again in the morning once we've broken fast? There's more to discover, I think."
He suggests talking over the day's discoveries in comfy chairs over drinks after dinner.
"We've encountered a number of these bound spirits so far - who have we yet to meet? And how might we prepare for them?"
Theodore frowns. He glances down at his person. He frowns. He glances up at Tiff.
I do believe that being dead null and voids that particular contract.
Theodore frowns.
I ain't donating no organs either. Still need them. So, anyone like to inform myself of why myself is looking like a hobo got robbed by another hobo. And not nicely.
The Cleric smiles at Kendra.
I could use a bath, a laundry service and a stiff brandy. Not in that particular order, please.
"Of course, Theodore," replies Kendra. "I'll start with the brandy. If you change your clothes I can have the maid start on laundry. I assume you have brought changes, but if not, there may be some of Father's that would fit.
Can you tell me what happened to you, Theodore? And Quinn, sir, can you tell me of the spirits you have met?"
"Lets carry on and at least clean up everything that is above ground. Right?"
Theodore awakes the next morning (having slept under his offered bunk after a few stiff brandy) ready for some coffee, dry toast, and someone to explain what happened to his ruined rumbled attire!
Please no shouting, boisterous applauds, or unsettling lactose issues for a bit. I've have a duper of a possession hangover.
"A possession!" Kendra replies to Theodore. "That is most notable. I shall record the details of it. What did you experience?
Marill, Quinn, Ismene, Tiff - did you observe Theodore while he was possessed? What did you see?"
Quinn sips his brandy and mulls over the day's events. "Well, Miss Lorrimor, Theo here fell over and spectral chains entwined him, wrapped in all sorts of different holy symbols. Squeezed 'im tight, real tight, but they corroded away with the right application of positive energy. Got a little bit of that one trapped away in a siphon, I think Marill did."
He continues to mull and sip his glass. "I reckon we ran into a shade of the Piper of Ilmarsh too, or maybe just a colony of his stirges. Got me good, right..." He pokes at a hole in his shirt. "Right here."
"Let's see, what else might be important? Skeletons? They seemed haunty but I don't know that they're particularly relevant to any one murderer. What else?" He looks around to the rest of the group.
Kendra scribbles down some notes.
"Different holy symbols? So Father Charlatan, most likely.
That sounds like you encountered spirits of two of the five most notorious prisoners. We can take down notes on your experience another time, Theodore. I must say you look... well, better now than before."
---
South of Lorrimor Place, you pass a set of Posting Poles.
The best sources for local news in Ravengro are the posting poles located throughout the town. Here one can find dozens of messages tacked to one of the five huge posts jutting out of the ground.
Pevrin Elkarid, the oldest son of the owner of the Laughing Demon tavern, has taken the role of Post Boy for the last 3 years, charging 1 cp to transcribe five copies of a post and then ensuring that the copies are posted for at least a week.
It is at the Posting Poles that the locals leave news of nuptials, job postings for farmhands, or notices of missing pets. The most popular regular item at the Posting Poles, however, is the “Wealday Parchment”—a weekly posting written by elderly councilman Gharen Muricar that summarizes Ravengro’s current politics. Occasionally, it even carries news of events beyond Ravengro’s borders. The “Wealday Parchment” is the closest thing Ravengro has to a weekly paper.
The current "Wealday Parchment" does not mention the arrival of a group of strangers, an unfortunate confrontation at the Restlands, nor desecration of the Memorial - so it must have come out before those events. You can be fairly certain the next Parchment will feature you.
A man lies slumped against poles, hat pulled down over his face, either sick or drunk.
Tiff frowns at the man laying there unsure of what his problem. She approaches him and starts waving her hand in front of his face oblivious that he likely can’t see her, ”Heeeelllooo! Are you injured? Do you need assistance? Sammy what do you think? Some malady that causes hypersomnia?”
Theodore frowns at his sister's antics.
And why are we bothering the poor hobo?
As Tiff approaches, she detects the smell of rotting flesh.
The 'man' lurches to his feet! And she can tell this poor soul passed away some months ago.
Round 1
Tiff
Ismene
Quinn
Theodore
Marill
Zombie
Tiff exclaims, "Aaaaah! Necromancy! What is going on in this town?"
She raises her hand with her index finger pointing at the zombie, her thumb is raised and she bring it down flush with her index finder. She intones, "Requiem Mortus."
A thin beam of light projects from her finger towards the zombie.
Starled, Ismene scurries up beside Tiff, grabs her reagents from her belt, combines them to form a bomb and lobs it.
Theodore calmly places a hand on the shoulder of Quinn.
Hit it hard in the head.
The Cleric then follows behind.
Marill will bravely advance on the zombie and attack it with his starknife
for piercing
Feeling invigorated, Quinn charges forward at the monstrosity, drawing his longsword!
Theophania's ray misses.
Ismene's bomb explodes , and the air fills with the smell of burning decaying flesh.
Marill's starknife hits, but doesn't seem to hurt the zombie at all.
Quinn's charge finishes off the zombie.
The body still has some fresh grave dirt on it. Do you wish to track it back to where it came from, or move on to Harrowstone?
Theodore calmly picks a bit of stray dirt off his sleeve, as the Cleric points to the fresh dirt about the zombie.
Suppose we should follow the yellow brick road.
The Pharasman Cleric then follows those invested in outdoors type activities.....
Ismene is able to follow the tracks back to the Restlands.
They lead to a disturbed grave, with dirt spilled outwards and a broken casket visible below.
The headstone reads Garvin Straelock, beloved Father and Husband, 4671-4710.
Do you re-inter the body?
Find Father Grimburrow?
Move on to Harrowstone?
Theodore calmly picks lint off his lapel, waiting for someone to cast Unseen Servant to rebury the dead might have wanted to be a priest commoner....
"We should definitely get Father Grimburrow to properly re-inter the body. Only he can do the right job. Otherwise we risk his soul or body returning"
"Re-interring seems the right move indeed." Quinn wipes his sword off and returns it to his sheath. "A little concerning all this happening outside the asylum walls though. This may be bigger'n we thought. This is dangerous for the villagers."
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"We should definitely get Father Grimburrow to properly re-inter the body. Only he can do the right job. Otherwise we risk his soul or body returning"
In a short while, you are able to summon Father Grimburrow to the Restlands. His voice is brusque and hoarse, but his words have some compassion to them.
"Bad business, this. You did the right thing to seek to re-inter him.
We in the faith of Pharasma are taught to destroy the undead abominations, but most every one of them wears the form that was once somebody's loved one. It's never easy when you know them.
Garvin was a good man. His time came sooner than his family thought it should have. Sickness of the lungs. He is missed.
Harrowstone is stirring. I know this wasn't you. You didn't awaken anything. Lorrimor might have, but even there I think not. Something else.
Some of the townsfolk may not be so sure that it wasn't you. I will try to keep this quiet. You all, put an end to the matter. The sooner the better."
Theodore calmly picks at his Holy Symbol of Pharasma as Marill runs to find a priest.....
Ismene's lips twitch worriedly as she tracks the undead back to a grave in the Restlands.
Once they seek out the priest, she asks him, "Father Grimburrow, I do not mean to be indelicate, but how is it that a body properly interred in hallowed ground was able to rise like this? Is there no way to protect the dearly departed from this unholy state?"
Tiff calmly pats her brother's shoulder in a comforting fashion, "Don't worry the expert is here."
She turns to the father, "Yeah that's right, even if the townsfolk scorn us, we'll thanklessly save them from whatever this foul threat is. Juuuuust as soon as we find out what it is. Stupid necromancers, they just don't understand consent."
Ismene's lips twitch worriedly as she tracks the undead back to a grave in the Restlands.
Once they seek out the priest, she asks him, "Father Grimburrow, I do not mean to be indelicate, but how is it that a body properly interred in hallowed ground was able to rise like this? Is there no way to protect the dearly departed from this unholy state?"
"There is, but it is costly. The spell Hallow would likely prevent such desecration. I have neither the magical ability nor the material resources to cast it. And it would not be able to cover the entirety of the Restlands. Just a small patch that would then be fought over and bid on such that only the wealthiest families could have such protection."
"This is Ustalav," he says with a weary sigh. "The influence of the Whispering Tyrant lives on throughout the land. And so it is no easy thing anywhere in our country to keep the dead in peaceful rest.
Here in Ravengro, I fear that spirits stirring in Harrowstone Prison have caused this, and perhaps other trouble besides. I will hire guards for the Restlands tonight, to watch and make sure it is not a necromancer at work."
Tiff calmly pats her brother's shoulder in a comforting fashion, "Don't worry the expert is here."
She turns to the father, "Yeah that's right, even if the townsfolk scorn us, we'll thanklessly save them from whatever this foul threat is. Juuuuust as soon as we find out what it is. Stupid necromancers, they just don't understand consent."
The priest shrugs. "You are new in town and trouble has happened. Those of lesser intellect may draw an erroneous conclusion. Do not expect too much from people and you will not be disappointed. But as to gratitude, you have mine and that of my goddess."
Quinn let the clergy and academics discuss the world beyond. He wasn't much interested in the workings of the gods anymore.
"We'll see to Harrowstone as we can, Padre. Heading there presently."
Theodore ignores the other cleric of Pharasma and follows Quinn's lead back to the haunted prison for his redemption....
You make your way back to Harrowstone Prison.
If you want to pick a specific direction, I will go with the "Rule of Two." If nobody does that, I'll just move you ahead into one direction or another. But I do want to give you time to make any preparations you wish.
Theodore calmly enters the prison proper (again). Shaking his hands a bit, he points to the groups left.
The east-west corridor south of the auditorium led to a locked iron door, which perhaps someone now has the ability to open?
Tiff suggests, "Maybe we should look for a key? Not to discourage you Ismere! Sorry! How about directly north there were some doors past the stairs we can check. Also! I can climb the balconies without difficulty now, did you want me to throw down a rope?"
"Searching rooms sounds good, so we might unravel mysteries AND maybe find the key."
Quinn scratches at his chin for a moment. "Think a horse might be able to pull it open?"
"Do we have any horses? :-). I think we should just check the north rooms first"
Tiff ponders the question, "Hmm maybe I could transform into a horse. Some sore of equinalification spell."
She does some math on the back of a napkin, "Oh. Ah! Yes... that's right. Well the bad news is that the power requirements scale logarithmically. But the good news is I think its possible. So all I need is a research grant and 5 maybe 10 years of work."
"Oh, I grew up 'round horses, and even trained as a knight for a bit in my youth. I might be, ah...well, able to wrangle a horse up for us if we need one. If she'll...fit?" He looks around the indoor area dubiously.
Theodore calmly picks lint off his lapel waiting for the others to complete their horsing around.....
Finding a way to harness a horse to the door could prove challenging. If you had chains, and could attach them to the door handle, you would be more likely to rip off the handle (possibly rendering it unable to open) than open the door.
A crowbar around the jamb would be the most plausible way of opening it, but if you have no such option at present, looking for the key might be better.
The party moves to the north.
Several moldy cots lay strewn around this room, while doors to smaller, more private sleeping cells hang askew to the west. Judging from the rest of this room’s decor, this must have once been the prison’s infirmary.
Theodore begins squinting about the prison infirmary.
As Theodore pokes around, a shocking sight materializes!
A twisted, nearly skeletal ghost appears in the middle of the room.
As soon as it had appeared, it vanishes again!
Ismene and Quinn are Frightened for rounds, and must flee if possible (however, they are not Panicked and so do not drop items held).
Map is up. The creature is not visible at the moment, but I have marked the location where it appeared.
Round 1
Tiff
Ismene - Frightened 1 round
Marill
Monster
Theodore
Quinn - Frightened 1 round
"Waaagh. A poltergeist!!!!.Desna, protect us"
With that, he bursts into song.
+1 morale bonus on attacks, damage and saves vs fear
Theodore calmly relates his findings of the situation.
Good news. It's not a Haunt. Only a restless poltergeist that will only rest when every major spirit does in this place. See. No worries...nope....none...Quinn looks a bit green? Ismene too? Probably the stuffiness in here.... definitely not a Haunt.
Tiff asks her brother, "What? I can't hear what your saying through all your sputtering."
She points at the spirit with her index finger and pulling it back twice while incanting, "Pew, pew." She casually walked up to it and examined it more closely.
Tiff asks her brother, "What? I can't hear what your saying through all your sputtering."She points at the spirit with her index finger and pulling it back twice while incanting, "Pew, pew." She casually walked up to it and examined it more closely.
Tiff stands where the spirit disappeared ready to pew pew, when it inevitably reappears.
Quinn does indeed look a bit green-cast. "P-p-p-poltergeist!" He knows of them, and more importantly, knows that he is utterly helpless against their eerie powers!
Ismene flees, then stops and gathers her wits.
The invisible poltergeist hurls a scalpel at Theodore.
Since the poltergeist is using Telekinesis, the square that the scalpel flew from is not necessarily the square where the spirit is. It does not become visible when it attacks (though it will become visible if and when it uses its Frightener ability again).
INSPIRE COURAGE +1 is active
Round 1
Tiff
Ismene
Marill
Poltergeist
Theodore (-2 HP)
Quinn - Frightened 1 round
Round 2
Tiff
Ismene
Marill
Quinn trundles away awkardly, muttering about never getting away from damnable haunts.
Theodore calmly trundles away after Quinn....