Ezra nods, and heads back around the house to try the door.
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Ezra glances at Cassiel, as if to say, "Should we go in?"
Sensing possible impending doom, Ezra casts Guidance on the man as well as Cassiel.
Ezra follows, making sure to cast and recast guidance on her companions (including herself and the tiger) as they venture to the window.
Ezra pats Ezebelle in consolation, and casts guidance upon her before urging the ranger to try again.
Ezra scratches her head, clearly confused. "Might be ghost," Ezra shrugs, and casts 'cure light wounds' at the emanation.
Ezra focuses her attention, trying to analyze the Aura. "Magic," she nods to Edwyn
Ezra, hopefully noticing her companions' efforts, tries to quickly cast 'Guidance' on each so assisting in the hopes that it might garner a little extra 'oomph'. I suppose if it were merely locked or mundanely barred, she would likely not need such assistance? Having had such a realization, Ezra casts 'Detect Magic' upon herself, and begins focusing on trying to locate any auras.
Ezra whistles for her cat, and follows post haste into the house with her companions.
Noting Ezebelle's reaction, Ezra immediately tries to soothe the woman, casting guidance just in case.
Ezra is oblivious to the shriek, and busy watching the dog. The woman's panicked approach does draw her attention, so she pulls out her card, "I am deaf." and does her best to read the woman's lips as she speaks to the rest of the party.
Ezra nods and points in the direction of the church, and begins the short walk. "If we make the Church like us, maybe others will as well. Good start."
"Did any of the prisoners or prison staff have a V name if we are looking for ghosts? We have a spirit planchette."
"So, tonight we watch him and the jail?"
Ezra follows Cas, intrigued.
Ezra nods her agreement.
Ezra nods and digs out a couple silver coins from her pouch, "Better food, please." she says, handing the coins to the deputy. "He may well be innocent." As she does so she attempts to convey genuine sympathy for the man who had just recently ambushed her and her newly acquired friends. Once she has done her best with the prisoner, she focuses on the Deputy, along with the rest of the party. . .
Ezra smiles and nods at the woodsman, attempting to convey a sense of openness.
Ezra nods, committing herself to aiding others for the afternoon, she prepares to head out. On her way, she makes sure to feed the bacon scraps to her beloved tiger. After a couple dozen steps, the gnome thinks better, and dashes back to the house to ensure her mask and veil are tied perfectly in place, and fetches her silent whistle, just in case her companion is needed after all.
Ezra nods and helps clear the table before preparing to head out.
Ezra nods to Edwyn, "I will go too." she intones as she erases and writes something on her board. Ezebelle:
Ezra shows you the board, which reads, "Would it be a bad idea to bring the crypt robbers with us to see the priest?" Before heading out, Ezra fetches her mask and veil, securing both in place before she leaves the house.
"That statue, with all the blood. Ask there?"
Ezra points to the board and planchette in response to Ultho's question.
Ezra swivels her head back and forth, trying to keep up with the conversation. As Ezebelle explains her use for the board, the gnome bursts out in coarse laughter, followed almost immediately by a deep red blush.
Ezra politely nibbles at her breakfast, setting aside the most choice bits of bacon and egg for her tiger while listening intently to Kendra. As the woman speaks, Ezra pulls out her blackboard and lies it flat on the table. Around the outside edge she carefully, and with great precision, lays out the common alphabet along with numbers from zero through nine. In the center she writes 'Yes', 'No', and 'I do not Know'. When Kendra has finished, Ezra presents to board to her for approval. Pointing to the original board, she glances at Edwyn, "What language?" she asks, pointing to the strange script.
Ezra smiles as her friends come in for breakfast, waving enthusiastically at each in turn before she serves them each a portion of the modest feast. Once everyone is seated, Ezra takes a seat her own self, then mimes the use of the board and planchette to Kendra, tilting her head curiously.
Upon waking, Ezra wanders the house in silence for a half hour or so, then decides to prepare breakfast for her companions. The gnome takes some time in the larder looking for bacon or dried sausages, eggs, cheese, and vegetables. Once she has the basics taken care of, she begins to rummage through the shelves hunting for anything vaguely resembling coffee.
Ezra rolls over in the overstuffed chair as Edwyns speech falls upon deaf ears, and begins to snore loudly, unaware of the battle across town.
Ezra snores loudly, a small rivulet of drool escaping the corner of her mask.
Ezra nods to Edwyn. "Perhaps we should take a break, then ask our hostess about libraries in town. We may have exhausted our luck here. she manages with a pained look on her face. Standing, Ezra courtesies then takes a quick nap in one of the coney chairs in the professors library.
Rather than focusing on the research herself, Ezra abandons the task based on her dismal failure, and simply scans the spines of the volumes searching for anything labeled appropriately.
After a few moments, an exasperated oracle just collapses, frustrated, into a corner and waits politely for the others' return.
Ezra nots to Edwyn, "Yes, they are." In an effort to calm Edwyn, Ezra begins pulling up books, and looking for some insight into the possible inmates at the prison at the time of its unfortunate collapse, and any survivors who might be yet alive.
Ezra passes a note to Edwyn, "I don't really speak any sign languages very well, but I read lips just fine. I will continue to work on talking better. I am deaf after all, not mute."
Ezra nods to the young wizard, and walks outside mounts her tiger, and spurs the beast towards the temple and, hopefully, Ultho.
Ezra nods at the bookish young man. I believe that is something we really need to look into, but if they are long dead and causing problems, they are likely undead. We really should look into getting those tools." "We need Ezebelle.
@GM: Smiling at Kendra, Ezra takes a seat on the floor for a moment, "Sometimes taking your mind away can be a good thing. What libraries or research locations are best around town, your own excluded, of course." the gnome croaks as she removes her mask and hood. "While your mind takes a break from all this, I only ask you to keep in mind how you would want the dear Professor to think of you. This is a small town, and gossip flows like wine. Do be careful."
Taking pen and paper, Ezra carefully lists the potential research sites mentioned by Kendra, and adds them to the books she gathers for Edwyn Taking her time (taking 10) Ezra begins sifting for information on the local temple of Pharasma, and the former prison the good professor was investigating. Although she does not do any actual in-depth study, she attempts to have the works handy for the group's scholar.
Upon arriving back at the house, Ezra will organize the books the professor had and begin to leaf through, looking for hints and clues to present to Edwyn upon his return. Of primary concern are events in the past that resemble the goings on presently. Blood on statues, etc. In addition, she looks for any references to the death of the Professor. Something is afoot.
Ezra ponders whether she should return home for cakes, or follow the deputy back to the jail, just in case. After all due consideration, she opts for cakes.
In an attempt to answer the Sheriff, Ezra takes his hand, and leads him to the war razor, water, and blood in the wood pile.
Glowering behind her mask, Ezra gestures, rather rudely, for the old man to step outside, then points rater theatrically at the wood pile, including directing his attention to the drying blood, war razor, and waterskin. Once she believes the man should be able to comprehend, the gnome crosses her arms over her chest, and nods. The tiger moves into position along side Ultho at the gnomes bidding, and growls angrily at the tawny man.
Ezra remains by the door, blocking the exit.
Ezra orders her cat to move up to the man, and menace him. As long as he remains peaceful, nothing bad will happen. . . Wonder how long it will take the man to notice a small army with all their armaments aimed at his head. . . If this isn't a wake up call, nothing will be. Wait, that was funny. Too bad no one else heard that. HAHAHAHA!!
As the door opens, Ezra quickly casts guidance on Cassiel. Hope he negotiates before he kills the old man. . . "
Ezra moves back away from the window to allow her companions to take position. Once she is out of the way, she orders her tiger to defend her should anything unto wards emerge.
Ezra looks at Eebelle slightly confused, then moves around the house to cover any other exit besides the door.
catching on at long last, Ezra dismounts and signals Noni to be silent as well.
Ezra also takes note of the fact the party is traveling down the main road, oblivious to Cassiel's observation. Travelling the main road would seem to indicate that either (i) this villain is amazingly bold, taking no care to hide himself or his actions. I don't think this fits. If he were so bold, he would likely have written more. Or at the very least done something to ensure the message made a firm statement. (ii) villain is a complete novice and fails to understand the basic concept of stealth. Not too likely since he did take care to perform the actions at night and out of sight of the general populous. (iii) the villain responsible is operating with a deep enough understanding to realize a man on a road is much less likely to attract attention than a man skulking about in the fields late at night. In which case, it is relatively safe to assume the person responsible is working towards a goal, in which case there is almost certainly more to come. Making sure to keep her mental notes firmly in place, Ezra continues to ride silently behind her allies.
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