Tatyana Weis's page

Tatyana follows behind Valliard and Lectrum, ticking off possible courses of action on her fingers. "Search for items belonging to the five prisoners to aid in fighting them, starting in the property room to the southeast. Examine the runes painted by the necromancers who killed Professor Lorrimor. Consult with Father Grimburrow about the haunts and the ghosts leaving the prison. Consult with the sheriff about the possibility of instituting a curfew, or at least posting a watch to catch anyone acting strangely at night. Anything I'm forgetting?" She shakes her head. "Gods what a mess this has turned out to be."

Not that she minds. This is the sort of thing she was born for.

She readies her bow as Valiard opens the door, just in case there's an enemy on the other side. One can never be too careful in a place like this.

"Setting a trap sounds sensible to me. Father Grimburrow should assist once we tell him there are angry ghosts on the loose. It's his duty as a Pharasmin." Tatyana considers the logistics. "I don't know if we'll be able to convince the sheriff to institute a curfew. So far we have no real proof that the ghosts can leave besides the letter on the memorial, which could be easily dismissed as a prank. Not that I'm saying we shouldn't try, just that I wouldn't be surprised if he decides the risk doesn't outweigh the inconvenience for the town. But curfew or no we should be able to keep an eye on a few key spots, such as the memorial."

"It's only a little after noon now. At the very least I'd like to take a look at these runes the Whispering Way inscribed to the northwest before we leave, although I'm open to exploring more if people wish." She offers a respectful bow to Vesorianna. "Thank you madam for helping keep these haunts in check. We'll get to the bottom of this as soon as possible so that you too can rest."

Sorry for disappearing; I ended up in the hospital unexpectedly and was in no shape to post. I'm still recovering but doing much better now so I should be back to posting on a more regular schedule.

Tatyana listens carefully to Vesorianna's account, trying to get as much information out of the ghost as she can. On the subject of the five prisoners she asks, "By 'five distinct and powerful personalities' do you mean Father Charlatan, the Lopper, the Mosswater Marauder, the Piper of Illlmarsh, and the Splatter Man? Can you tell us anything else about them? We've been doing our own research but I still know little other than the names."

The last bit of information Vesorianna imparts alarms her. "Spelling out your name? We heard a rumor about someone writing a 'V' in blood on the Harrowstone Memorial a few nights ago. Is that what you mean? If so, how could the Splatter Man have done it? Is his ghost able to leave the prison grounds?" The prospect of an angry, powerful ghost running freely about town has her reaching instinctively for the ghost touch arrows. (Although, not wanting to alarm their unusual ally, she stops herself from actually drawing one.)

Since it seems Valiard and Henric at least are fine with skipping the side rooms for now, we did not go into S6.

By the way, are we supposed to be reading the spoilers under DM notes? I've been assuming not and haven't been opening them.

Bypassing S6 and moving into S11

At first Tatyana thinks they've found another room full of trash. She's about to move on when the ghostly figure manifests. Stepping slowly into the room instead she eyes the ghost with clear apprehension. Ghosts, being undead, cannot be trusted and should be put to their final rest as soon as possible. However this particular ghost seems willing to talk to them and might have the answers they seek.

"Tatyana Weis. Inquisitor of Pharasma." That last part is a bit pointed but it's possible this ghost wants to be laid to rest. "We're not guards. Harrowstone has been shut down for decades now after a fire killed everyone here, including you. Although given you mentioned the haunts and introduced yourself as the wife of the 'late' warden you may know that already?"

Assuming Vesorianna doesn't react violently upon being reminded of her death, Tatyana then adds, "We're here because we learned a group of necromancers were interested in the prison and are trying to figure out why. Could you elaborate on what you meant by 'preventing the release of Harrowstone's haunts'? It's possible those two things may be related."

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

Tatyana peers into the room, nose wrinkling as she sniffs. "My guess would be more spooky stuff. Those branding irons clearly haven't been used for decades." She purses her lips as she thinks. "Haunts are tricky. Other than the method that requires codes I don't know of any way to communicate with them, and without communication figuring out how to exorcise them is difficult. I'd like to consult with Father Grimburrow; see if he has any ideas."

"Unless they're blocking our way to something that looks like it might explain what a cabal of necromancers was doing out here I'd suggest ignoring them for now." She shrugs helplessly. "It's not ideal but there are plenty of other places to explore. Maybe some of them will hold records that have survived or show signs of recent activity. If none of them do we can always come back and investigate more thoroughly later."

The main thing Tatyana's looking for is either signs of recent activity, (from the professor and/or the Whispering Way) or a records room that might give us more information about the asylum. Her inclination is therefore to ignore these haunted side rooms for now and she's expressing that in-character.

However I the player am aware that goes against the adventurers' code of thoroughly looting searching every room before moving on. If people would prefer investigating as we go Tatyana won't object.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Tatyana looks into the room on the left, disappointed to see nothing but trash. Just as she's about to move on she freezes-

underground, she's being dragged underground, she can't breathe can't move can't think-

-before coming back to herself with a gasp. "Haunted. Yes." She rubs her wrist where she can still feel the weight of a shackle. "I know a basic method for communicating with haunts if it becomes necessary, but it's slow and works best if you've got someone who's good with codes. Which I'm not."

Turning around to the right she eyes the room for a second before taking several steps back. "There are a lot of spiders in there. No sense antagonizing them if we don't have to. I'd say move on for now."

Seeing another hallway Tatyana continues down the left path, carefully peering around the corner where the room opens up to see what else might be inside.

When the northern door doesn't immediately open (but also doesn't re-trigger the haunt), Tatyana steps forward. "I've got something for this." She rummages through her pack and pulls out an innocuous-looking bar which she then transforms into a basic crowbar. "This was the first magic item I ever purchased. My mentor told me it was important to always be prepared for anything." With the help of the 'crowbar' she's able to force the door open and quickly repacks the tool.

Upon finding themselves in a long hallway Tatyana looks carefully at the two nearest doors. Seeing no immediate difference she says, "I usually go left when there's not a reason to pick one way over another. Does that work for everyone else?"

With the +2 bonus from the traveler's any-tool Tatyana can take 10 for a 14 towards opening the door.

Tatyana’s result was a 24. A successful aid another would push her over the threshold.

Try the northern door like we said we were doing? It’s entirely possible that won’t work but all we know so far is “there’s a haunt.” Maybe there’s a time limit on how often it can trigger. If there isn’t a quick “it happens again” post from you will confirm that and we’ll start looking for alternate solutions.

"Haunts. I hate haunts," Tatyana mutters to herself as she follows Valiard to the north doors. She prefers undead she can shoot. Even when they're incorporeal she can still deal some damage to them. Haunts on the other hand are a pain in the ass to destroy. She can't shoot the doors.

Well she could but it would be a waste of good arrows.

"If you're just nervous that's fine, but if there's something that's going to make you panic you should tell us," she adds on to Lectrum's question. "Same goes for everyone; it makes it easier to plan. For example I don't do well in small spaces. If this roof collapses I might not be able to think clearly enough to dig myself out." Her shoulders tense involuntarily at the mere thought of it.

"An echo from the fire maybe?" Tatyana lowers her bow when she realizes Valiard didn't see an actual undead, although she keeps it handy. She has to suppress a shiver at his description of what he felt. Being trapped, crushed, and burned all at the same time...

Focus.

"Anyone who doesn't use arrows should hang onto the holy water. That way you'll have something to protect yourselves." She eyes the roof above suspiciously as they enter the foyer. While it looks ready to collapse at any moment, surely if it's held for this long it will hold for another few days.

With no particular goal in mind she heads towards a door on the left. As she opens it her eyes go wide and she leaps back just as a cascade of faces stream towards her. Before she can even loose an arrow they're gone again, punctuated by the sound of slamming doors.

Her heart hammers. She stands there motionless, slowly getting her breathing under control. Then she looks back at Valiard. Completely deadpan she says, "You're right. This place is haunted."

Would a K. Religion check help here?

K. Religion: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

Tatyana carries her bow loosely in one hand, peering around for any signs of the ghosts the professor had mentioned. She barely glances at the warden's house.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

Valiard suddenly stumbled as he was assailed by foreign sensations. His face went white as a ghost and he shuddered. Nearly rooted to the middle of the entry into the prison, he glanced about and spun around, peering into the shadows near the gate, before simply standing still, his hands shaking.

"I...I think that this place is haunted." he said, in a choked whisper.

"Yes? That's why we're here? Or at least why we think the Whispering Way came here." Tatyana is initially confused by Valiard stating the obvious until she notices how white his face has gotten. "Wait, do you mean specifically here is haunted? As in you just saw a ghost? Where?" She slowly turns in a circle, muscles tense as she looks for whatever Valiard might have seen.

If Kim could identify the haunt siphons I suspect that would be really helpful. Otherwise I think we're all good to go.

Tatyana shakes her head. "The fangs weren't strong enough to penetrate my armor. I didn't get bitten." When Lectrum brings out the healer's kit she tries to help by describing the centipedes so he can select the right remedies.

Heal Aid: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Unfortunately I don't think this will work. As I understand it Treat Poison only provides a bonus on future saves, it doesn't undo ability score damage that's already happened.

I created a rudimentary loot list using google sheets. Note that while Tatyana is listed as holding the arrows that doesn't mean she has to have all of them, just that she'd like to have some.

"Still the same day. We decided to go directly to the cache so you and Kim could sleep a bit longer." Tatyana stretches out her back with a loud pop. "As you can see it was well worth the trip, despite the centipede bites. Unfortunately basic healing is the most I can manage. Father Grimburrow might be able to help, if we want to stop by the temple again on our way to Harrowstone. Or we did just get a few potions if you'd rather use those."

Back at the house Tatyana sets a heavy chest down on the floor before going to find Kim and Lectrum. "Are you feeling any better? If the professor did raid the cache he left a lot of good stuff behind. Perfect for tackling a haunted prison, if everyone's up for trying that this afternoon."

Sorry GM, I missed what you were trying to do with the spoilers. Also apologies to Lectrum and Kim; I didn't think this little errand would end up taking so long. I thought it would be a short jaunt while you recovered from your fatigue.

Surprise Round:

Tatyana whirls around as she hears the vermin scuttle closer. Within a few seconds her bow is drawn and an arrow nocked. "Giant centipedes. Shouldn't be too much of a problem."

Monster Lore means she has +7 to K. Nature when identifying the abilities and weaknesses of creatures.

Round 1:

As soon as the giant centipedes get within thirty feet Tatyana unleashes two arrows at the closest one.

+1 Ghost Touch Composite Longbow, PBS, RS: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 10 + 1 - 2 = 25
P. Damage, PBS: 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 = 6

+1 Ghost Touch Composite Longbow, PBS, RS: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 10 + 1 - 2 = 18
P. Damage, PBS: 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 1 = 10

"I would guess the professor, although I do wonder why he didn't just ask Father Grimburrow for the key. Perhaps he thought it better to ask forgiveness than permission." Tatyana picks up the damaged lock and puts it in her pocket. She'll let Father Grimburrow know to replace it later.

Inside the crypt she notes the disturbed dust but can't make any sense of where the tracks might lead. "Someone was definitely in here recently. Do either of you have any idea where they might have gone?"

As Henric leads the way further in Tatyana tilts her head to one side, listening, then puts her hand on her bow. "Vermin behind us. Be ready."

Perception, Lock: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
Perception, Tracks: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
Survival, Tracks: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Perception, Vermin: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

Now that we're headed for a fake crypt being used as a cache for hidden treasure, it might be a good idea to bring up one of Tatyana's potentially-irritating abilities. At will Detect Secret Doors. (Which, despite the name, also detects hidden compartments, caches, and so on.)

In any place we're investigating I feel like it would make sense to clear a room, stand in a corner, and cast DSD to see if we missed anything. Would people (GM included) find that tactic annoying/cheap? On the one hand secrets are meant to be found, on the other I know some people hate spamming detect spells and would prefer to find things the good old-fashioned way.

Tatyana nods. "That makes sense. Checking now also lets us know if there are any major gaps we'll want to fill before leaving. It's entirely possible the professor already took everything of actual use."

Off to the crypt we go!

Question for the GM: How close is the Temple to the false crypt, and where is Harrowstone in comparison?

The paranoid part of me says "never go to a crypt without the full team," but logically if we're right there it might make sense to grab the supplies now.

"Thank you for your assistance Father. We'll be certain to put the supplies to good use."

Once they leave Tatyana looks to Valiard. "Do you want to fetch the supplies now while the others are still sleeping or have that be part of the later excursion to Harrowstone once everyone's together?"

Is having the acolytes come with us supposed to be a bad thing? The more the merrier as far as Tatyana's concerned, especially since it gives us the Official Seal of Church Approval if any paranoid townies start wondering what we're doing in a crypt.

"Just water, thank you." Tatyana sits up straighter in her chair. "Thank you for meeting with us on such short notice Father. We have a matter of some import to discuss with you."

"As you know Valiard, myself, and several other individuals are here as part of the last wishes of Professor Lorrimor, may Pharasma keep his soul. In his journal he recorded that he was investigating a group of necromancers known as the Whispering Way. He believed they had some interest in Harrowstone. However when he tried to investigate the prison he was prevented from doing so by ghosts."

Tatyana pauses. This is the delicate part. "He also wrote about a cache of supplies hidden by the church of Pharasma in a secret crypt in the Restlands. He believed those supplies would help him get past the ghosts and finish investigating the prison, but it seems he died during the attempt. We would like to continue his work, both because he was our friend and because if there are necromancers in the area they need to be stopped. Therefore we'd like to check the crypt for useful supplies before going to Harrowstone ourselves. May we have your permission to do so? Or better yet, would you be willing to come with us? You could ensure that we are showing all due respect to the dead, as well as verifying that we are using the cache for its intended purpose in fighting undead."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

"All I've read about Warden Hawkran so far is that he and twenty-three of his guards sacrificed themselves to save the town when the prisoners broke out. There's apparently a statue to them out on the riverbank." Tatyana frowns thoughtfully. "Nothing that would suggest he was using the prison as anything other than, well, a prison. Perhaps when we investigate Harrowstone itself we'll learn more."

At the mention of bad dreams she gets a far-off look in her eyes. "I had a strange dream as well. It started badly but didn't end that way. In the end I got the rest I needed." Breakfast finished she stands and grabs her gear. "Those of you who didn't sleep well last night should take a nap now. If we do end up exploring Harrowstone this afternoon I'd prefer everyone be in their best shape. Valiard, you ready to go?"

She heads towards the temple with the goal of finding Father Grimburrow and asking him about the secret stash.

Tatyana gets herself a slice of bread and a few berries. When she goes to pour a glass of milk she pauses. "Still cold. Has anyone seen Kendra? She must have been here not long ago."

As she eats she nods at Valiard. "Yes. We should take Kimberly as well, they-" She cuts herself off as the girl in question appears. "Kimberly? Is everything alright?" Concerned, she fixes the girl a plate of food and, (unless Kimberly shies away), feels her forehead for any signs of a fever. "If you need to rest today you can take a nap while Valiard and I go speak to Father Grimburrow. There are always the professor's notes here in the house if you feel better later. Perhaps Henric could help too?"

Last Night

"I had forgotten about the supplies hidden in the crypt. I agree they would be useful, but I also think we should ask Father Grimburrow before taking anything from there. It would be even better if he came with us. The last thing we need, given the uproar about necromancy in the town, is for someone to see us sneaking into a crypt." Left unspoken is the fact that Tatyana, as an inquisitor of the church, is uncomfortable with the idea of taking from one of their emergency caches without permission. "I can ask him about it tomorrow morning. It shouldn't delay us much even if we want to investigate Harrowstone tomorrow. As much as I'd like more information about the prisoners, I admit it could take weeks to sort through those files. Time we may not have."

Sorry, I was camping yesterday and missed Valiard's question to the group. I'm fine fast-forwarding but would rather he not go to the crypt alone. If he goes (and Tatyana knows he's going) she'd go with him. I'll get a post up here in a minute.

It’s a DC25 check to learn about one prisoner or a DC30 check to learn about two. I’m thinking it might be worth us three researchers focusing on that for a day or two.

Tatyana heads back for her shift watching over Kendra’s house, mind buzzing with information. When the group gets back together for dinner she shares what she’s learned. ”At the time of the fire there were more prisoners in Harrowstone than ever before, which probably explains how they were able to band together and break out. I found mention of five prisoners of particular notoriety: Father Charlatan, the Lopper, the Mosswater Marauder, the Piper of Illlmarsh, and the Splatter Man.” She massages her forehead. ”There are copies of the case files for every prisoner, but the organizational system is…lacking, to put it mildly. I only found the Lopper’s today. It might be worth all of us focusing on searching through the case files tomorrow.”

“Anyway, the Lopper. His real name was Vance Saetressle, but everyone called him the Lopper because he beheaded all of his victims with a handaxe. He was a patient murderer. He’d hide in the most unlikely of places, sometimes for days upon end with only a few supplies to keep him going while he waited for the exact right moment to strike.”

She leans back in her chair. ”Kimberly and I also ran into a group of girls playing jump rope. They were singing a song that undoubtedly refers to the five prisoners and their methods. The song was in Varisian, but translated it goes:”

“From what we can remember this macabre song has been popular for decades so it’s probably not related to what’s happening recently. It’s a disturbing coincidence though.”

Thanks for linking the journal entries; they're very helpful.

K. Local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Tatyana frowns as she translates the lyrics for Kimberly. "I think I remember hearing something about this. Five verses, five infamous killers from Harrowstone." To the children, she says, "Thank you for speaking with us. I'll let you get back to your game."

As they walk to the temple she asks Kimberly, "'Splatters spell her name just right.' That reminds me of the rumors we heard about someone writing a 'V' in blood at the Harrowstone memorial last night. Do you think someone from the Whispering Way is trying to copy the methods of one of the notorious prisoners?" As soon as they get to the temple she heads straight for the prison records.

K. Local: 1d20 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 4 = 29

Researching the Five Prisoners

Previous Night

Tatyana just shakes her head. "She also commented on how strange it was for the warden's wife to be in the prison that day, same as the account Valiard read. Then she mentioned trying to raise funds for a monument commemorating the warden's heroism. Otherwise nothing stood out to me. I'll go back to the temple tomorrow and see what else I can find."

"I do agree that searching the prison grounds is also a good idea. Perhaps one more day of research and then an excursion there? It's always difficult to know exactly when to stop preparing and start acting."

Once dinner is finished and everyone retires for the night, Tatyana sits down at a desk and begins composing a letter to her superiors.

Morning

Tatyana wakes early and hurriedly eats breakfast, hoping to get as much research done as she can before her shift. Before she leaves she asks Kendra, "Is there a post office in town? I have a letter I wish to send."

She's about to walk by the children skipping rope when she hears the lyrics and stops. At first she thinks she must be translating incorrectly, but as the verses repeat and become more disturbing she eventually wanders over. "Excuse me. That rhyme you're singing, where did you learn it? I'm particularly interested in the third verse. 'Drops of red so sparkly bright / Splatters spell her name just right.'"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11 Blessed Infiltration reroll
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 Wow.

Tatyana will be staying at Kendra's place because it's convenient. She'd prefer her own room but wouldn't mind sharing with Kimberly if necessary. As for watches she can take the 2-10pm shift. She does have darkvision and tends to keep a later schedule both because of that and her job. (Heretical sects like to convene at night.) She'll research during the mornings.

Her nightly rituals include performing the deific obedience for Pharasma. It's a bit macabre and is part of the reason she'd prefer her own room. (Some people get weird about you laying a bunch of bones into a spiral while chanting ominously. Who knew?) She also keeps a journal and writes in it nightly.

Tatyana listens carefully to the information everyone has gathered before offering her own notes. "The temple had an account written by the wife of one of the prison guards. She called the fire a blessing in disguise, for the prisoners had started a riot and were in control of the dungeons when it occurred. Had the warden and his guards not sacrificed themselves the prisoners, hardened criminals one and all, would have escaped and ransacked the town." Her brow furrows. "While an interesting bit of history, it doesn't offer much help for the present situation. Perhaps if we can uncover more information about the specific prisoners we'd get a better idea of why a cabal of necromancers would be interested in the place."

Tatyana follows along behind Kimberly. "Professor Lorrimor's research often helped hinder the machinations of the undead, so I'm not surprised that necromancers would consider him an enemy." Her lip curls in disgust. "An old prison would be the perfect place to find evil spirits and offer them a chance at unlife. Even had the professor not asked us to stay here I would have done so anyway upon learning this information. It's not precisely my area of focus, but I am here and other inquisitors are not."

She hangs back as Kimberly charms her way into the temple archives, offering a polite smile and greeting to those residents she recognizes from previous visits. Once they've been granted entrance she makes a beeline for the tomes that will cover the history of the town. No doubt the professor's library already has extensive notes on the Whispering Way. She should take advantage of this opportunity to look into other matters.

As she flips through the various tomes she offers prayers to her goddess, asking assistance in quickly finding the information she seeks.

K. Local, Guidance, Temple Bonus: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 1 + 4 = 20

Tatyana is researching Harrowstone.

Sorry but I’m a little confused. Does Tatyana also need to roll Diplomacy to research at the temple? I thought once one PC succeeded everyone could research here. (Unlike the Town Hall which specified it was one PC per check.)

"What is Harrowstone and what fire are you talking about?" After reading the journal Tatyana is more worried than ever. A cult of necromancers can be an extremely dangerous thing. "Also, Kendra I'm sorry to have to ask you this, but how did your father die? I was under the impression it was of natural causes."

Once they're done discussing everything she stands up and stretches. "I'd prefer to research at the temple; their records are bound to be extensive. Kimberly, would you mind coming with me? They might be more inclined to let us in since they already know you well."

If Kimberly agrees, one of us can roll for the Diplomacy check while the other aids. Probably Kimberly as the main roller since her Diplomacy is higher and she might get a bonus for being a local, although Tatyana's Blessed Inspiration makes her a good backup.

Tatyana shrugs. "The books themselves shouldn't be dangerous unless we read them. He wouldn't have kept them in his house otherwise. I don't need the money either but I do take the last wishes of the dead very seriously. If Professor Lorrimor wanted us to stay for a month, then that is what I plan to do."

"I am concerned however that Henric might be correct. Asking us all to stay for a month does seem excessive if all he wanted was for Kendra to have companionship and assistance in her time of grief. How long ago did he write his will? Was it recently changed?"

When the chest is brought out Tatyana eyes it warily but doesn't protest its opening. The two unholy books she recognizes, (she's actually read Serving Your Hunger as part of her studies on the undead), but the other two she does not. Of most concern is the new book with "Read Me Now" on the cover.

She reaches out carefully and picks it up. While it could be a trap, surely the professor would have mentioned if the book labeled "Read Me Now" should not actually be read. (Unless someone broke into the chest and planted the book after his death, but that seems unlikely.) "Is this his journal? Perhaps there will be answers inside." Assuming no one protests, she turns to the last entry and begins to read.

Perception, Drake: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
Perception, Kimberly: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

at Tatyana: I know you, I've seen you at the church, I think you are nice

...

She then turns to everyone, I am Kimberly, That is the name assigned to me. The Doctor needed my help not so long ago. Pharasma guided me and anointed me. If The Lady of the Graves so wills it, I will see to it that each of you receive fair judgement at your appointed time.

Nice? It's not a word often used to describe Tatyana and the sheer novelty of it makes her smile. "I remember you too Kimberly. I'm glad to see you doing well. Have you officially joined the church?" The girl is after all about the same age Tatyana was when she first became an acolyte. Her smiles fades as she once again remembers her 'initiation' into the inquisitors. Mother of Souls willing, may Kimberly's journey be less perilous.

She listens carefully to the reading of the will, brow furrowed. "I've dealt with a few such books in my time and can understand why the professor would have wanted experts to deliver them back to their proper places." She looks around at the eclectic group and amends her statement. "Or, if not experts, at least those accustomed to danger. To be clear, did Professor Lorrimor include Kimberly in those he wished to deliver the books?" Kimberly clearly had unique talents; perhaps the professor had hoped one or more of his old friends would help foster them.

"Regardless, I have no objection to staying and assisting you for a month, if you desire the help." She studies Kendra's face, curious what the other woman thinks of all this.

Sense Motive, Get a Hunch: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Tatyana sits stiffly in a chair, eyes occasionally flicking to the nearby bookshelves. She's been here before, but never without Lorrimor's steadying presence nearby. Between that and the number of people crowded inside, the room seems much, much smaller than normal.

Hoping to distract herself, she asks, "How did you all know the professor? I know some of you explained at the eulogy, but if we're going to be here a while we might as well go into more detail. For myself, I had an unfortunate encounter with a gravebound while investigating a cemetery. I was able to call upon some strange connection with the earth to free myself and the professor was quite curious about it when he heard." She smiles slightly. "I would have expected a scholar as busy as he to ask a few questions, run a few tests, and be on his way. That's not how he was. He sat by my bedside for hours teaching me how to cope with the lingering fear. The clerics healed my body, but it was Professor Lorrimor who healed my mind."

She bows her head and closes her eyes. "I will miss him."

Just posted.

Tatyana stares at the crowd as they leave, committing the faces to memory. If they would accuse someone like Professor Lorrimor of necromancy, something must be very wrong with this town. Then she returns her concentration to the task of carrying the coffin.

Her brow furrows when Father Grimburrow offers healing and Councilman Hearthmount mentions informing the sheriff. "No one was injured, Father. The mob left peacefully enough." To the councilman she adds, (trying to be quiet enough that Kendra cannot hear), "I worry the fools may return to try to dig up the body. If you could warn the sheriff of that possibility so he can watch out for potential grave-robbing, I would be grateful."

At the gravesite Tatyana listens carefully to the stories of others who lives had been touched by the professor. When it is her turn, she makes her way forward. "Professor Lorrimor was a wise man, a scholar beyond compare. He spoke in crowded halls across the Inner Sea, and yet he always found time to help individuals as well. Several years ago, I was a frightened young acolyte who had just survived an encounter with the undead. He took the time to visit me, not just to learn what had happened, but also to reassure me and help me recover. He was a good man and his loss will be keenly felt throughout Golarion. May he rest easy in the care of the Mother of Souls."

She steps down and pauses beside the grave, drawing a spiral with her finger. "Birth to death, death to birth, the circle remains forever unbroken. But I must admit I wish you had not found your fate so soon."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25