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You have traveled long, and came across large stretches of land just to be there. You came to mourn an old friend.
And there you stood, surrounded by strangers you know nothing about, staring into the open grave as the coffin was lowered into place. It is customary to open the lid of the coffin one last time before it is covered with dirt - but the pouring rain made that in impossibility out of respect for the body.
Lorrimor didn't leave many physical things behind. A small house in the insignificant town Ravengro and a lovely daughter, Kendra. Blessed with a thin, tall build and long, bright hair - both rare commodities among the stocky dark haired Ustelavians.
She stood over the hole in the ground where her father was to be buried, tears streaming down along her noble cheeks.
"You were a good man, father", she said, and you all agreed.
"You brought your light, your heart, as gifts to this world. With your knowledge it would have been easy to settle down in a university and spend your time gathering power. You didn't. You cared to much. I loved you, father, as so many others did. And I... I..."
obviously this became to much for her to bare, and she left her spot by the open grave and went aside to mourn by herself.
You all knew the professor. You all knew of his death and that's the reason you came, but standing there, staring at the wooden chest that contains what's left of him... those kind of things always leave an impact.
An hour went by since the burial. You are all sitting now in Lorrimor's residence, at the relatively luxurious guest room, on leather couches surrounding a low wooden table. the room is pleasantly lit by four oil lamps. Kendra Lorrimor is making herself busy serving hot milk (which you understand from the way she speaks is the local traditional non alcoholic bevrege) and fruits. as she scurries to and fro along the house you have a chance to know each other a little, and talk before Mr. Heartmount, the leader of the Ravengro council, arrives and handles the legal procedures of reading the professor's will.
Dot
Sitting on the end of a leather couch, Durgan politely accepts the milk and fruit and waits until Kendra leaves the room before smelling and tasting the milk. Not to his preference, he sits it aside and eats the fruit instead.
Even thought some juice dribbles from his mouth and into his newly braided beard, he is careful to dry it up before it reaches his stark white tunic, upon which is emblazoned a longsword, blade down with the hilt surrounded by a radiant flare of gold.
He appears to be a young Dwarf with brown eyes and braided hair like that of his beard. His longsword and shield lean against the couch arm, and he sits forward to allow his boots to rest on the floor. After a few moments of silence, he clears his throat and stands.
"I am Durgan Stoneshield, son of Keergan the Stout, servant of Iomedae - may her light hold the darkness at bay." He bows slightly in reverence and in greeting to each of those in the room.
"Me father and the Professor were fast friends - venturing together for many a year. I am here in me father's stead...to serve the Professor and his family in whatever way I can."
He clears his throat again and returns to the couch, sitting the empty fruit plate on the floor near his glass of milk.
A man who shared Kendra's oddities, the thin build and blond hair, seeks out Durgan's couch and sits on the other end. He nods knowingly as he deposits his own longsword and shield off to the side. He is dressed in a clean and proper traveler's outfit, which still seems too informal for such a grave occasion. He smiles at Kendra as he accepts the milk and fruit. He moves somewhat awkwardly, but any sharp eye can deduce that is due to the armor he has concealed under his clothes. He raises a glass at Durgan's greeting. As his sleeve moves when he raises his arm, you can make out a familiar symbol of a longsword with a flare tattooed into the back of of his hand in golden ink.
"Iomedae preserve you Durgan. May she preserve us all. I am Exelar, a humble servant of Iomedae as well. The professor was a great inspiration for me and I am here to pay my respects at his passing."
He glances around the room, looking at the other guests before returning to the fruit and the milk.
Sitting alone at the far end of the room is a very unkempt man. Wearing attire more fit for an outdoor expedition than a funeral, he grasps his cup nervously. His eyes quickly dart about the room, examining the others and their actions. After a failed attempt to raise the cup to his lips, he sets it aside and slowly rises. A tall man with hair as black as the night and eyes as silver as the moon begins to make his way to the other guests. He leans against the wall, looking at no one in particular.
"He was a great man, was he not?"
Exelar gaze turns to the nervous man.
"He was indeed! I hope that all were as inspired by him as I was!"
His look becomes more suspicious as he takes in the man's appearance despite the fact that they are dressed similarly.
"How did you come to know the professor? I am very keen to hear new stories of him."
The man crosses his arms and lowers his head.
"It is quite a story. I was lying on the brink of death in the woods when the Professor came upon my wounded body. There is a dark time when I don't remember, but upon waking, I saw his face again. He had taken me in and nursed me to health. According to him, I was out for a few days. I then spent the next week recovering in his home. I learned a lot about that man during the week. His generosity stemmed not from greed, but from his heart. He asked nothing in return as I left. I owe that man my life and hopefully, I can honor his memory in some way."
Raising his head, he wipes his eyes, taking in a deep breath.
"How about you friend? I'm sure the Professor blessed your life in some way as well."
Exelar listens to the story carefully.
"My story is somewhat less dramatic I'm afraid. The professor was a great help to my order in these dark times many times. I had the honor of coming to him directly once when I was young. His wisdom and kindness struck me... I was a rage-filled youth. My father was taken from me by the old abominations. He helped me find a way and put me on the path to doing good instead of looking for revenge. Likely, I owe him my life in a way as well, as without him I would have gotten killed long ago."
He looks around the room.
"I am surprised to see this small group here. I know the professor touched many lives! Perhaps we have been chosen for something. I wonder what it is that the professor's will has to do with us. I never expected to be in his will myself."
"Iomedae preserve you Durgan. May she preserve us all. I am Exelar, a humble servant of Iomedae as well. The professor was a great inspiration for me and I am here to pay my respects at his passing."
"Indeed, Exelar, and greetings in her name." Durgan responds with a bow of his head.
"He was a great man, was he not?"
"Aye, indeed he was," Durgan mumbles. "At least me father spoke quite highly of him."
He listens to the two men tell their tales and sighs deeply...but says nothing else. Instead, he turns his gaze to the petite, dark-haired woman in the chair, giving her a smile and a nod of greeting.
Darcy looks up as the Dwarf approaches, turns her head sideways, and nods her greeting in return. Then she softly speaks to him, "I am called Darcy". "I feel a bit out of place, as though the Professor helped me out of a tough situation, I really didn't know him that well". "I'm not sure why I was summoned here, as the rest of you seemed to be close to him.
Darcy looks up as the Dwarf approaches, turns her head sideways, and nods her greeting in return. Then she softly speaks to him, "I am called Darcy". "I feel a bit out of place, as though the Professor helped me out of a tough situation, I really didn't know him that well". "I'm not sure why I was summoned here, as the rest of you seemed to be close to him.
"In truth, me lady, I never met the Professor. Me father counted him as one of his closest friends. But me father...well...serves in Iomedae's heavenly court and I am here in his stead."
Durgan looks at his hands for a few seconds and then raises his head, whispering to Darcy, "With the funeral and all, I could sure use something stronger than milk to drink. What about you?"|
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Yout chats are interruptes as a strong knocking on the house's strudy entrance door summons Kendra, who hastily open it and greet the raven haired, sour faced man who enteres the home as Mr. Hearthmount. The man strides into the room and glances around with an aura of authority and, you feel, slight disgust.
"Well, I don't know the lot of you", he greets, "But I respect the proffessor, and he wanted you here. Well, this is his last will and testement."
Hearthmount gets seated comfortably and pulls a large envelope from a large pocket in his shirt. Opening the envelope he extracts three items from it. The first is a key. "I'll be damned if I know what this opens", he sais apolegacticly to Kendra, who gives him a tightlipped smile. The second object is a book, small and tetered. the third is a long scroll.
"Well, Mr. Lorrimor's will. shall we?"
Without pausing for an answear, the man reads the scroll in a dreary, neutral voice.
"“I, Petros Lorrimor, being of sound mind, do hereby commit to this
parchment my last will and testament. Let it be known that, with
the exception of the specific details below, I leave my home and
personal belongings entire to my daughter Kendra. Use them or
sell them as you see fit, my child.
“Yet beyond the bequeathing of my personal effects, this
document must serve other needs. I have arranged for the reading
of this document to be delayed until all principals can be in
attendance, for I have more than mere inheritance to apportion. I
have two final favors to ask.
“To my old friends, I hate to impose upon you all, but there are
few others who are capable of appreciating the true significance of
what it is I have to ask. As some of you know, I have devoted many
of my studies to all manner of evil, that I might know the enemy and
inform those better positioned to stand against it. For knowledge
of one’s enemy is the surest path to victory over its plans.
“And so, over the course of my lifetime, I have seen fit to acquire
a significant collection of valuable but dangerous tomes, any one
of which in the wrong circumstances could have led to an awkward
legal situation. While the majority of these tomes remain safe under
lock and key at the Lepidstadt University, I fear that a few I have
borrowed remain in a trunk in my Ravengro home. While invaluable
for my work in life, in death, I would prefer not to burden my
daughter with the darker side of my profession, or worse still, the
danger of possessing these tomes herself. As such, I am entrusting
my chest of tomes to you, posthumously. I ask that you please deliver
the collection to my colleagues at the University of Lepidstadt, who
will put them to good use for the betterment of the cause.
“Yet before you leave for Lepidstadt, there is the matter of
another favor—please delay your journey one month and spend
that period of time here in Ravengro to ensure that my daughter is
safe and sound. She has no one to count on now that I am gone,
and if you would aid her in setting things in order for whatever she
desires over the course of this month, you would have my eternal
gratitude. From my savings, I have also willed to each of you a sum
of one hundred platinum coins. For safekeeping, I have left these
funds with Embreth Daramid, one of my most trusted friends in
Lepidstadt—she has been instructed to issue this payment upon
the safe delivery of the borrowed tomes no sooner than one month
after the date of the reading of this will."
He awaits your responses.
Dragos was silently crying in his chair. When Mr. Hearthmount finishes reading Lorrimor's will, he raises his head. You could see bloody tears running down his pallid face.
-My name is Dragos Moldoban, and Lorrimor was my father. -the pallid man pauses his speech for a moment, staring the table, lost in memories- Well... he was the father I never had. -then, he looks directly at Mr. Hearthmount- I swear for my honour that I'll do whatever it takes to accomplish whatever Lorrimor wants from us. -his glance is full of pain for the lost.
Dragos travels from town to town helping everyone who needs his help. That's written in my background. So, the people in Ravengro knows Dragos, and tolerate him for the help he has rendered to the town.
He treated Lorrimor as his father, and called Kendra "sister" almost all the time, but the truth is that he loves her secretly.
If you don't agree with any of this, please, tell me and I'll change it.
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Kendra smiles feebly at Dragos. "There, brother, there's no need for melodramatics. Father asked for nearly trivial things."
"Yes, Mr. Moldoban, I assure you, you will have little trouble carrying out Lorrimor's will. Kendra?"
Nodding, Kendra paces out of the room and returns a moment later, carrying a small chest.
"The books are inside... friends, I sincerely thank you all for coming, but I need time to grieve on my own... it is a family matter, after all. I will leave you here, for now. Please, make yourself at home."
Hearthmount excuses himself as well, and before he leaves he says, "Ravengro is not very welcoming of strangers... but the professor trusted the lot of you, and I trust the professor. If you'll need anything while you are staying, please let me know"
Exelar looks a bit confused, but accepts the small chest from Kendra. He thanks the executor and bows to the lady as she departs. He sets the chest down on one of the tables in front of the couches.
"An odd request to be sure. I'm sure the professor had his reasons, however, and I for one never found it to be a good idea to question his logic. So it looks like we will be staying in Ravengro for a good little while. I hadn't planned on it, but I'm sure it can be arranged."
Durgan watches Drogos closely, openly staring at the man...or whatever he is.
After several seconds, he bows to Kendra and Hearthmount as they leave, and then walks over to Exelar. He lightly touches the box holding the tomes and says, "Iomedae has brought us together for a reason, brother." He glances at Drogos and then back to Exelar. "As long as we stick together we should be able to fulfill the last wish of the Professor. What about you, Darcy?" he says, turning toward the woman. "You in?"
Dragos seems to be accustomed to glances like the one Durgan is keeping on him. He seems unaffected by it.
-So, our first task is to maintain kendra save for a month, isn't it? That's not a problem. I would do it even if it wasn't written in Lorrimor's will.
Dragos seems to be accustomed to glances like the one Durgan is keeping on him. He seems unaffected by it.
-So, our first task is to maintain kendra save for a month, isn't it? That's not a problem. I would do it even if it wasn't written in Lorrimor's will.
"Aye, it is...er...Dragos. Perhaps we should come up with some rotating watch so she has fresh guards on a daily or weekly basis. What say ye?"
Durgan watches Drogos closely, openly staring at the man...or whatever he is.
After several seconds, he bows to Kendra and Hearthmount as they leave, and then walks over to Exelar. He lightly touches the box holding the tomes and says, "Iomedae has brought us together for a reason, brother." He glances at Drogos and then back to Exelar. "As long as we stick together we should be able to fulfill the last wish of the Professor. What about you, Darcy?" he says, turning toward the woman. "You in?"
Darcy looks up shyly for a moment making eye contact withe the Dwarf, then quickly looks away, "I guess", she mutters. "What should I do".
Silently, the man walks over to case of tomes. He examines the chest for a moment, hesitant to open it.
"What kind of things do you think the Professor found?" he asks, to no one in particular.
Exelar frowns at the man examining the chest.
"The professor told us they were dangerous and I trust his word. If he thought that we should peruse them, he would have told us. I don't think we should worry about the tomes, beyond keeping them safe of course."
He looks back to Durgan and the woman, giving the pallid man a strange stare.
"I think we should ask the lady what she desires. The professor left us to help her set things in order. I'm sure her personal safety is important as well, but perhaps she will have a task for us. The delivery of the chest will be an easy task. I look forward to visiting Lepidstadt in a month."
"You have a point. I need not worry about the tomes. I was just curious, is all. And yes, we must kept the lady's safety in mind. However, I think if we are to be in each other's company, we should become at least somewhat acquainted."
He rises and turns towards the others in the room.
"Greetings, I am Arlos."
-Nice to meet you, Arlos.
Greetings, Arlos, Durgan says with a slight bow of his head. "Where is lady Kendra? Perhaps we can ask her what she wants of us exactly."
Durgan walks toward the door leading out of the chamber and opens it, looking around for Kendra. If he sees her, he will call out to her to get her to come back to the room. Then he will ask her what she wants them to do first.
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Durgan:
When you go searching for Kendra, you find her seating by a window, staring glumly out at the grey view of Ravengro.
"You see this small building up ahead?", she asks while pointing at a wide, short building a small distance away up the street. "Father used to sit me by this window, and we looked together at that house. it was the court of justice here in town. there was always something interesting going on there. He scared me with his stories of murderers, unbelievably vile people sentenced there."
After you explain the reason you came looking for her, she nods.
"Of course, I'll accompany you."
All:
Durgan and Kendra enter the room. Kendra approaches the locked chest containing the tomes.
"Father never wanted to prevent knowledge from anyone", she declares. "It would make sense if you wanted to red the books. it's up to your discretion, though. Tell me... do you know how my father died?"
-I was out of town, visiting my mother. So I don't know how father died. -the tears wanted to flow again. You could say that by the bloody colour of his eyes.
-And you are right. Father never prevented the knowledge from anyone. That's why we shouldn't read these books. If he didn't want you to have it, there must be a reason for it.
"His death is a mystery to me as well, my lady. And I agree - some things are better left alone. We will deliver the box as your father wished, but in the meantime, what would you have us do for you?"
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"Well, I will tell you how he died", the woman says bitterly.
"He was exploring the ruins of that damned prison, Harrowstone. Father was the best man I knew, and he died in a stupid accident, an entire statue toppled over his head and smashed it. He was obsessed about the ruins for some time before his death." She pauses, hesitating, before she carries on.
"I tried to persuade him not to go fooling around an old, crumbling building but once he had the idea in his head he was immovable. I want to know why he died. And for all that I know, his reason might be found in the pages of one of his precious books."
She turns and looks at Durgan. "If you don't want to read this book", she turns and looks at each of you. "If not one of you is willing to read those books tell me. I'd read them myself."
Embarrassed and slightly irritated, Durgan meets the fiery woman's eyes and bows his head...then he reaches for the chest and opens the lid.
Either way, once the chest is open, he reaches in and delicately removes the tomes.
"No need to burden yourself, me lady - we will read them and mayhap discover clues that will help us on our mission."
.
-I totally agree with you, Sir. -Dragos stares Durgan. Then, he looks at Kendra- Leave this to us. We have to ensure your safety. And it could be hard for you to read this books.
"Very well Lady Kendra, we will get to the bottom of this!"
He leans over and fingers through the bindings looking for a book in celestial. If he does not find one, he picks any one that looks like it's themed about demons or a similar plague. He pulls it out and plops it on his lap.
"We shall set about it right away! The professor may have thought them dangerous, but obviously he found it important enough to risk his own life for something in these pages."
Silently, Arlos peruses the tomes. He is particularly intent on finding something about dragons or draconic in nature.
After a couple of hours of boring reading, Darcy moves over to Durgan. "You still up for that drink"? "What say we get out of here for a while, and see what's up with this town". "The books will be here when we get back".
"Aye, I've worked up a mighty thirst indeed. Lead the way, me lady; first round's on meself."
Exelar glances over at the dwarf and the woman. He mumbles something under his breath wondering how anyone can think of ale at such a serious occasion. He continues reading the tome unless someone addresses him directly.
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As you read through the books, Kendra looks about somewhat helplessly. After a couple of moments she murmurs her thanks and makes her exit.
Most of the books you find are all but unintelligible to you - they are written in bizarre, alien runes, or contain such complicated formula that you cannot possibly hope to follow. Some books though catch your attention.
Dragos-
Durgan-
Darcy-
Dervin-
Exalar-
Darcy & Durgan-
Arlos has enough of his book after a few minutes. He returns it to the chest and sighs, speaking his thoughts out loud.
"These books are all over my head, I'm afraid. While I'd like to find more about what the Professor is up to, I think these tomes are better left to someone more scholarly than I."
Catching wind of Darcy and Durgan's plans, he makes their way to them.
"Now, Durgan, was it? Would it be much trouble if I joined you and the lady Darcy for the evening?"
Arlos has enough of his book after a few minutes. He returns it to the chest and sighs, speaking his thoughts out loud.
"These books are all over my head, I'm afraid. While I'd like to find more about what the Professor is up to, I think these tomes are better left to someone more scholarly than I."
Catching wind of Darcy and Durgan's plans, he makes their way to them.
"Now, Durgan, was it? Would it be much trouble if I joined you and the lady Darcy for the evening?"
"Sure". "It's a free world...well for the most part". "Come on and we'll make a party of it".
DM
"Wow! this place is really hopping tonight isn't it"? "Bring us something to ease the dreariness would you man". "Is it always so depressing around here"?
I'm not going to the tavern. I'll stay in Kendra's home studying the personal journal of Lorrimor. When I have any idea of what was Lorrimor up to until he dies, then I'll tell everyone about it.
"Sure". "It's a free world...well for the most part". "Come on and we'll make a party of it".Arlos has enough of his book after a few minutes. He returns it to the chest and sighs, speaking his thoughts out loud.
"These books are all over my head, I'm afraid. While I'd like to find more about what the Professor is up to, I think these tomes are better left to someone more scholarly than I."
Catching wind of Darcy and Durgan's plans, he makes their way to them.
"Now, Durgan, was it? Would it be much trouble if I joined you and the lady Darcy for the evening?"
"Aye, what the lady said. How 'bout dem books, eh? The one I read...well, it gave me the willies, it did. What about you two?"
"Sure". "It's a free world...well for the most part". "Come on and we'll make a party of it".Arlos has enough of his book after a few minutes. He returns it to the chest and sighs, speaking his thoughts out loud.
"These books are all over my head, I'm afraid. While I'd like to find more about what the Professor is up to, I think these tomes are better left to someone more scholarly than I."
Catching wind of Darcy and Durgan's plans, he makes their way to them.
"Now, Durgan, was it? Would it be much trouble if I joined you and the lady Darcy for the evening?"
"Aye, what the lady said. How 'bout dem books, eh? The one I read...well, it gave me the willies, it did. What about you two?"
"Heck if I know". "I couldn't even get the one I had open". "How about another round"?
"So have you ever been to this depressing city before?
"Heck if I know". "I couldn't even get the one I had open". "How about another round"?
"So have you ever been to this depressing city before?
"Another round sounds good. Robert! Another round of Lorry's Golden Juice...or whatever the hell it's called!"
Durgan shrugs and then says to Darcy, "First time for me in this hole. Only reason I'm here is to fulfill the Professor's dying wishes. I figure I owe him that for his friendship with me father. May both of 'em bathe in Iomedae's eternal light!"
He raises his mug for a toast before taking a big gulp of the beer.
"Heck if I know". "I couldn't even get the one I had open". "How about another round"?
"So have you ever been to this depressing city before?"Another round sounds good. Robert! Another round of Lorry's Golden Juice...or whatever the hell it's called!"
Durgan shrugs and then says to Darcy, "First time for me in this hole. Only reason I'm here is to fulfill the Professor's dying wishes. I figure I owe him that for his friendship with me father. May both of 'em bathe in Iomedae's eternal light!"
He raises his mug for a toast before taking a big gulp of the beer.
"Aye, a worthy toast."
Arlos finishes off his ale and sighs.
"As for me, I haven't been anywhere these parts before. It wasn't until I got a message from the Professor that let me know he was dead, that I even though of swinging by these parts. I'll have you know, it's quite something getting a message from a dead man. He always was rather clever, that Professor."
As the next round of drinks arrives, Arlos lets out a hearty cheer.
"Let us enjoy this night in his memory!" Arlos cries, as he raises a mug.
Durgan continues to drink into the night with Arlos and Darcy and as he drinks, he considers what has been asked of him...and decides the lady Kendra is in good hands. In the morning he will leave for Vigil and take his father's place there in the ranks of defenders against the evils spawning from the lands of Belkzen. May the light of Iomedae guide him in all he does.
Exelar bows to Dragos, the only other reader left in the study. He leaves quietly, returning to his duties. This babysitting business doesn't require his intervention. He leaves a small bag of gold coins to ensure that the lady Kendra can afford to pay for some protection if she needs it. He feels a little like he is abandoning a charge that needs him, but he knows that there will be many more in danger if he is not back home ot protect them.
Screw obligation. The old Coot was dead anyway.
Darcy crept into the sleeping Lady Kendra's room. Drawing her shortsword she took her time and slit the sleeping ladies throat, carefully making sure that all the blood stayed on the sheets. Then disposing carefully of the body, and the soiled sheets, she carefully went to the makeup table and began to apply the makeup...careful to die her hair the correct shade. Then she went to the wardrobe and picked out a dress that she particularly liked.
Life was going to be much better as Lady Kendra.