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Gaius returns with a neatly set tray and sets to work pouring tea all round. He doesn't give any more details about Harrowstone, but proves himself equal to the task of keeping a light conversation going and even brings a smile or two to Kendra's face in the process! "We'll return in the morning?" He asks Signe when Kendra leaves to heat more tea. "We've made good progress but those spirits are dangerous - we shouldn't leave it any longer than we have to."
Gaius looks to Signe to start the explanation and slips out of the room to make a new pot of tea. It is the done thing for news like this!
"Then let us proceed." Gaius suggests. He holds any further discussion until they've left the lower level and are headed back upstairs to collect the bones. "I'd suggest telling her the truth - that the Professor was here and that he had discovered something important. That will reassure her that her father died for a worthy cause. I suggest we don't explain any more for now. We still need to finish exploring here, so any conclusions would be premature."
"Well that makes two of the spirits. The Piper and the Marauder I believe." Gaius says, tucking the siphon away. "It is a shame we only have two of these left. I would prefer to return upstairs and collect the bones, remove them to consecrated ground or some such. That might destroy Father Charlatan's spirit without further issue, but I am no scholar of such things, so I will defer to you Signe."
Gaius unstoppers a second haunt siphon, judging the Mosswater Marauder to be the greater threat, and then circles behind the skulls to support Signe.
Gaius nods his agreement and moves into position just behind Signe so as to not obstruct her much larger blade. ------------------
"Over here vile thing!" Gaius yells, slapping at the creature's head with his thinner blade.
Seeing his blade have no impact Gaius stabs at the creature's eyes, trying to distract them and help Signe.
"Minor undead." Gaius says clinically. "You should have no trouble dealing with them Signe. They share a number of traits with undead so might is better than magic here." He stays in place next to Signe and readies himself to strike as the creatures approach.
"That went well." Gaius says, nodding in satisfaction. "It is a shame we only have four more of these - they are most helpful. Could you replicate a similar effect with magic Signe? Either way that should be one of the five... hopefully at least. Let us move on and finish this upper floor."
Gaius flicks the cap off a haunt siphon and the swirling mists inside flash green for a moment.
"Could we consecrate these or some such?" Gaius asks. "Is there a ritual or some such we could perform?"
"Hmm..." Gaius says softly, withdrawing the tangled collection of holy symbols that once belonged to Father Charaltan. "I don't think this is a good sign. Can you sense anything Signe?"
"Same plan as before." Gaius suggests. "Work around from the right." He suits actions to words, checking carefully in both directions as the pair exit the staircase and then leading the way to the right.
"She confirmed that the Professor was killed here, and by the same people who enacted the ritual to steal her husband." Gaius points out. "It is my undeniable duty to follow through with this quest. My sword is yours." He smiles at Signe, looking suddenly younger as he does so. "Even if it wasn't I'd help anyway. We are a good team and you are an intriguing woman. I suspect a lot of interesting things will center on you Signe Valland, and I do enjoy interesting." With the feelies over Gaius thinks over the rooms they have covered. "So much of the ground floor has been covered, but I suggest we finish it and then proceed to the upper floor - it will likely be less populated and will allow us to refine our technique against these spirits."
"Then that is what we will do." Gaius says firmly, having no doubt that Signe will agree. "You say that your husband was in the levels below. Is that true of all the ghosts? Is there any point in us checking the upper floor? In addition we have found some items, which may be of significance to those particular individuals. Would they be of any use in your binding ritual? Or as tools against the spirits in question?"
"To find out what happened to a friend of ours. He was killed while investigating necromancers here in the prison." He pauses to examine the ghost for a moment. "Is there anything we can do to help you? To let you pass on in peace?"
"Nicely done." Gaius says, getting on with the search which turns up a number of useful items. "Let's push on with the plan." He suggests. "Round to the north and finish this floor."
Gaius continues to be less than useful.
Gaius moves to catch the spider between them but has to spend more effort dodging Signe's long blade than actually landing a blow of his own.
Gaius moves to flank the spiders and thrusts his rapier into one of the bulbous bodies!
Gaius gathers up the items carefully and then returns Signe's look with a sombre one of his own. "I suspect that at least one of these criminals still haunts the prison. It is too much of a co-incidence that five noted murderers were present in the prison when it burned down and now it is so haunted that people dare not enter it or even scavenge the rooms in daylight. It may be that these items will help us placate some of the spirits." Once that work is done Gaius gestures back towards the main hallway. "Let us follow the same policy in the west wing, work around from south to north."
Locked doors in the Harrowstone
Bloodstained Handaxe: This +1 handaxe was the Lopper’s favorite murder weapon. No amount of cleaning can remove the bloodstains on the blade or handle. Collection of Holy Symbols: These holy symbols were used by Father Charlatan, who would select one from the collection that would match the faith of his victims as proof of his good intentions. There are a dozen holy symbols on fine silver chains—the collection as a whole is worth 300 gp. The silver chains that attach the holy symbols cannot be untangled, and the 12 symbols themselves are stuck together. Mouldy Spellbook: The covers and pages of this thick, leather-bound spellbook have become caked with mould over the years, but some of the contents remain legible. This book once belonged to Professor Hean Feramin, the man who would eventually achieve fame not through academia but through murder. Known in his final days as the Splatter Man, he was delt a hideous blow to his morale and sanity by the loss of his spellbook. Smith’s Hammer: This masterwork smith’s hammer grants a +2 competence bonus on all Craft (armorsmith, blacksmith, and weaponsmith) checks. If used in battle, the hammer functions as a masterwork light hammer. It belonged to the Mosswater Marauder. Tarnished Silver Flute: This 300 gp masterwork flute was once owned by the man known only as the Piper of Illmarsh.
Gaius leads the way back to the locked door in the south eastern corner, produces a set of fine looking lock-picks and sets to work.
Gaius allows Signe to hold his hand and Myrtyu offers a smidgen of compassion to help ease his wounds. "Thank you Signe." He says with a smile, "I think I'll drink one of these potions as well, just to make sure."
Feeling better he helps compile the various items that can be found. "A fine haul, although I fear we'll need them." He says, trying to remain upbeat. "Let's try this door, I'm hoping it will lead us back to the main corridor and we can check the locked door before trying the west wing."
Pharasmin Vault (to be returned if possible) A dozen silver arrows,
Poltergeist Room
Gaius reels backwards and pulls out his bow, attempting to use the arrow for its intended purpose.
Gaius thinks fast and hurries up to the creature before stabbing at it with one of the arrows from the Pharasmin cache.
"Let's keep moving." Gaius says, heading for the new door. "This should be taking us back towards the central corridor."
"Let's finish the exploration on this level before we risk going down somewhere we can't retreat from." Gaius suggests carefully. "We should try this one and then check the locked door too."
Gaius bits his lip as the skull sears his skin and retaliates with a swift thrust into the vacant eye sockets again.
Gaius circles to get behind one of the skulls and aims for the eye-sockets.
Gaius stays back to let Signe conduct her examination first. The process is always much easier without someone else getting in the way and distracting you from a train of thought.
Gaius shivers and pulls a haunt siphon from the bandolier he wears under the large leather coat that seems to constitute his primary armor. "I can deal with the door, given a little time." He says, but since Signe seems keen to move in the other direction he accedes with grace and follows her, wielding the small bottle in one hand and his blade in the other.
"I used to shoot for sport when I was at university." Gaius replies, examining the items with an appraising eye. "I suspect you will pick it up quickly though, we should spend some time this afternoon practising." "The potions," He continues, after examining each vial with a practised eye, "Are common curatives, but may well be useful. I have little experience with scrolls however so I am in no position to to judge. One assumes they would be useful though, else they would not have been in the cache in the first place." He glances back at Signe. "I will walk into the village and attempt to purchase a bow or two. Would you be so kind as to arrange some food? I think that is a better distribution of our talents than the other way around."
"Most importantly we know its location." Gaius points out with a slight smile. "I suggest we go there immediately. A walk in daylight will be much less odd than anything else. Then we can return tomorrow to investigate properly." He gestures back towards the entrance. "After you Miss Signe." --------------------------------------------------------
"Signe." Gaius says cautiously. "I think we should wait. Find the Pharasmin's vault and acquire their equipment. Remember what the professor said, he needed extra supplies to survive in here. I'd prefer to be over prepared than under."
Which is a good thing because Gaius's varisian is rusty and his translation is much slower than he'd like. "Well someone has certainly been here recently, for considerable time and with complex intent." He muses as he translates. "Let's see what they're up to here..."
"There could be any number of largely innocent explanations. Children exploring and so forth." Gauis points out. "But you are right not to disregard any possible clues." Leaving Signe to her work, Gauis heads eastwards, watching carefully to ensure he isn't treading on anything important until he can stand at the edge of the sinkhole and look down.
Gaius leads the way through the open gates and pulls up abruptly as he is assailed by the sensations of burning and being buried. Fortunately, a trained and rational mind such as his offers little purchase for the magic and he throws it off in moments. "That was most unpleasant." He says grimly. "There is some sort of lingering magic here. I felt as though I was on fire, and being buried at the same time. An echo of the poor souls who died here perhaps. I recommend we proceed carefully Signe. If there are more such things I may not be well prepared to face them."
"A particularly messy serial killer." Gaius replies absently, apparently quite absorbed by his reading. "He deliberately made a significant mess in each of the hostels he killed in. Hence the name. It was quite the cause celebrite at the time. As to your plan Signe I am willing to agree, but I think we should not plan much without further research. The law courts in Caliphas and Lepidstadt are full of cases based on superstition and ignorance. Many of them fail. If we are to find out what happened, then we must be as fully prepared as we can be."
"A wise plan indeed." Gaius agrees, "And there was reference to a vault of some sort?" He checks the diary. "Yes, 'a false crypt in the Restlands at the intersection between Eversleep and the Black Path'. It seems likely we will have to venture into Harrowstone ourselves, so visiting this vault to acquire some equipment would likely be a wise precaution." When it comes to cooking it is swiftly apparent that Gaius is not very well practised in the culinary arts.
Gaius nods his thanks, gives the sheriff a firm handshake and then makes his way back to the Lorrimor house. "The sheriff has given his blessing to our investigation." He informs Signe with a smile and a slight bow. "So Miss Valland, how do you think we should proceed?"
Gaius bows. "You are quite likely correct Miss Valland. I will speak to Sheriff Caeller, if he will give us his blessing then that should help legitimise us in the eyes of the community. Perhaps you should revists the Professor's journal? There is no point debating how we should investigate if we do not know what we are investigating." "I will wait upon you and Miss Kendra around lunchtime, if that is acceptable?" ----------------------------------------------------------
"Good day Sheriff, Gaius Trevelyan. I'm afraid we haven't been introduced properly. I was one of the people named in Professor Lorrimor's will. He asked myself and Miss Valland, who you met this morning, to remain in the town for a month to watch over Miss Lorrimor. Now you may not be aware but Miss Valland is a noted detective in Lepidstadt and naturally today's events have piqued her interests. She wishes to investigate." He pauses to see how the Sheriff responds to that idea. "Naturally, as a gentleman I must accompany her, it is my duty both to her and to the Professor's memory but these things must be done properly, of course - not merely subject to a woman's flight of fancy. So I wished to speak to you, man to man. Would it be acceptable for Miss Valland to look into things, perhaps a temporary deputisation or some such? If you care for some credentials you can contact my good friend the Viscount Langwin." Gaius slips a card from his glove and places it on the table. "He will vouch for me, as I in turn vouch for Miss Valland."
"Well thats an interesting bit of law enforcement there - not quite how proving guilt and innocence works but I suppose it will get the job done somewhere like this." Signe mutters to Gaius. "Proof by contradiction." Gaius replies equally quietly. "The method is not necessarily wrong, but jumping to conclusions might cause a problem." When Signe expounds her suspicions Gaius sighs. "No. I think the Professor was on to something, and he was no fool so it likely was the Whispering Way. They killed him and now are acting to confuse the situation, or some overzealous towns-person has taken it upon themselves to do something. Either way I think you are quite correct, the small-town mentality will likely assert itself in force. Be careful Signe, spend as much time with Kendra as you can. She seems to have a positive reputation of her own which should help to shield you. I also recommend we keep any investigation to be done in the clear light of day - let transparency be our shield as it were. I will speak to the Sheriff and see if I can arrange some official blessing for our efforts."
"We are not the law in Ravengro and there is no need to involve them, yet." Gaius adds, letting the last word drop with an element of menace. "If you help us then at worst you are an ally, at best you need not be mentioned at all. If you continue to obstruct us then your best chance is to be reported as an unwilling witness. At worst I imagine you would find yourself in jail. You had means and opportunity. Motive is no issue."
"Can you think of anyone who might want to do that?" Gaius asks, since it seems to be bringing Gibs on side at least a little. "Who would benefit from discrediting you?"
Gaius, even with his extract, is equally unable to make headway. He's never met a man with such a craggy face! "Have you been here long sir?" He asks. "Could someone have passed your house after you left?" It is easy enough to see why Signe has adopted this line of questioning - telling Gibs that he is the prime suspect would make him clam up immediately, although Gaius is considering it as the next step. Gibs seems to be pretty clammed up already!
Gaius flicks the cap off the vial and swigs it down without a word. He stays a pace behind Signe, intending to let her do the talking.
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