Aerys carefully replaces a volume on the history of the Mwangi Expanse, nodding to Kendra Lorrimor."I am amazed at the breadth of your father's interests, Kendra. I truly wish I could have known him better."
Turning to the others, he can only shrug."It is baffling to me as well. I met the professor only once, quite recently. I aided him with the use of a minor cantrip - I would hardly have thought the professor would have given our encounter a second thought."
On his shoulder, Nyx lets out a series of soft chitters. Aerys whispers in return,"Yes, Nyx. I'm sure he found you quite charming. I would doubt that is the sole reason for our summons, however."
Valerya stands crouched in front of the fireplace, facing the flames. She takes a quick look at the people in the room while speaking.
"Lorrimor, he really had a way of seeing a part of you that you didn't even know it was there. Maybe he saw that in each of you, and as his last act he wishes to help us achieve that. I know he did that for me already."
Having said that, Valerya returns to staring at the flame. After a few seconds she remembers she's indoors and removes her leather hat, revealing wild red hair underneath (and hidden pointed ears below that to a more attentive onlooker).
"Or maybe he just left us a trinket or something like that."
Kendra smiles and gazes at Torsten, nodding. "We have an agreement, Torsten. I am glad you like the... te."
"He would have appreciated your interest and appreciation, Mr. Trajyon - and I do too. I have yet found the time to read through every book in the house."
"I do not know why you're in the will either. But he was adamant that you were present for the reading." She folds her hands in her lap. "And Vashian won't arrive just yet either. But we will know soon."
Torsten seems to consider for a moment, and obviously reaches a decision of some sort. He then turns from Valerya to Kendra.
Kendra, I hope it is not rude of me to ask this, but how did Petros die? Was he ill?
Kendra lowers her head at Torsten's question. "I... it was the sheriff who found the body, next to Harrowstone, the abandoned prison ruins. A statue had fallen from its walls and... and ... crushed his neck and head..."
"Oh, thank you," the friar says at the bottle of brandy, pouring a generous splash of tea in with his brandy.
"It seems a sad irony that he should have traveled to so many places, escaped death and danger untold numbers of times, only to perish in his own home town. If it is not too painful a story, please, why were those townsfolk so adamant that the Professor not be buried in Pharasma's sacred cemetary?"
Kendra shakes her head at Venedictos, her eyes a little puffy. "I don't know. Goodness, I don't know why anyone would refuse his burial."
"I don't understand either. He was always very kind to me, and having lived near him, I would think they would like him all that much more"
"Whatever their motivations, Venedictos' words gave them much to think about."
"I hope so...I am grateful, Venedictos. Truly..."
The hour waiting for Vashian is long, though the warmth of the fireplace and the tea almost whisks the memories of the funeral away. The flames cast long shadows and it almost seems as though they have a life on their own - when there are knocks upon the front door, Kendra lets out a soft gasp in surprise, almost knocking the platter off of the table.
"You're all gathered, I see." Vashian stands in the doorway to the living room. The frown is in no way concealed, and he looks at all of you with mild disapprovement. He steps up to the table, pulling out a scroll case from his pocket. Professor Lorrimor's seal is unbroken. He shows it to all of you - a gesture of its validity - before he breaks the wax and opens it up.
A small iron key falls out of the case, rattling against the table. Vashian pays it no heed, as he unfurls the scroll and starts to read.
“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 favours 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 favour — 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."
“I, Petros Lorrimor, hereby sign this will in Ravengro on this first day of Calistril, in the year 4709.”
Vashian's expression doesn't change throughout the reading. When he is finished, he looks at Kendra, who nods. "Thank you, Vashian." I ... I can take it from here."
With a curt nod, Vashian leaves. She looks at all of you. Her expression has changed; her eyes are still puffy and the hint of tears are still there but there is a smile. "I...I don't know if I wish to sell the mansion or stay here... but... I will know in a couple of weeks."
"If you... if you stay for the month as my father asked, will you stay here in the mansion with me? We... I have enough rooms for all of you."
"I...I'll go get the chest. I know which chest the will spoke of. Please think about staying..."
She leaves the living room, leaving you all with time for thoughts.
For Torsten, this development is hardly a dilemma. Although he had been starting to tire of Ravengro, it was more for want of community and companionship than for any other reason. Here - in this place, with these people - he could find friends, community. The prospect of a tidy sum of money, while not insignificant, barely factors into this decision.
I will stay. Gods, I will stay. It might be the best month of my life since I left Losthome. When Kendra Lorrimor returns, I will relay my decision.
"My own social calendar is conspicously open,"Aerys says with a smile. It quickly fades, however. "And I would not like to see Kendra bothered further by Hephenus and company."
"A strange will," Venedictos says. "I get the please look after my daughter part, but I don't understand the other. Why would you make a will about a box of books you haven't gotten around to returning? Was he going to make another will once he returned the books himself? Or was he expecting that he wouldn't live long enough to return them?"
"That's an interesting point, and I was thinking the very same thing. It sounds to me like he thought someone wanted him dead for merely having the books in his possession. As well, this is a fairly recent will. Calistril was only nine months ago, and it is dated this year. Very strange. In any case, I suppose I can stay as well."
"If we all have been summoned by the Professor, it is safe to assume he trusted everyone in this room. I think I can speak openly without endangering Kendra or the quest Petros laid out for us.
Valerya stares at the flames, calmly stoking them with the hot poker, remembering another fire, some years ago...
You folks come from far away and you may not know this land. Wolves come howling down the hills every winter, and even worse things run down with them. Most people are defenseless against these monsters, but some of us take upon ourselves to do what others can't. And the professor supplies us... sorry, supplied - with the most important asset in this fight: information about our enemies. I think in the process of acquiring said information he has made quite a few enmities, and the townsfolk probaly don't see his studies in the best light."
Kendra returns shortly; in her arms is a small chest, made of oak. Its edges are laced in iron - it is clearly a sturdy construction. The front of the chest has a small lock; the key on the table bears the same colour and metalwork. "Here it is..."
She places it on the table and reaches for the key. When she attempts to open it, however, she hesitates; her fingers shake. She looks up at you all, before she lowers her head and holds out the key. "Would... would you please...?"
"Very well, miss."
Viktor will take the key, and try the lock with it.
Kendra steps back; as you insert the key, you find at it is a perfect fit. It clicks open without incident. Opening it, you find several old tomes inside; on top lies a relatively new one, and it bears the phrase Read me now!
Viktor reaches into the box. "This looks fairly new, especially in contrast to the others." He then retrieves the aforementioned book, and proceeds to open it.
The newest book is Professor Lorrimor's journal. As you skim through the pages, you find that they are mostly bland day-to-day activities of his actions throughout the town, yet some of them are circled with red ink. The last entry was 17 days ago.
Valerya twirls a lock of her hair while reading and trying to remember something about this Whispering Way "Harrowstone..."
Aerys' brow furrows as he reads the jounal entries. "Your father risked his life to oppose this 'Whispering Way.' Perhaps we should find out what it is they seek, given how dangerous he felt them to be. Do you know if he succeeded in getting this list from the Church of Pharasma, or these tools he sought in the false crypt? When was this fire at Harrowstone that he wrote of?"
Torsten had been pacing without realizing it. Now he stands, listening intently to the conversation around him. As the journal is read, he makes the sign of the pass evil.
The Whispering Way - to me, this is a story out of legend; a tale told to frighten children. I wonder if your father's death was truly an accident, Kendra. There seems to be quite a bit at work here, and he was clearly worried that something might happen to him.
Certainly we must seek them out, but we mustn't forget about Kendra's safety. Whoever was pursuing Petros may also try to sneak in here and find out what he left behind. We have to stop them from accomplishing whatever it is they want in this city, or countless lives will be lost.
She stands up, looks around at the people inside the room. Not one for subtlety (and perhaps just a little bit fanatical), she goes on:
I do know most of you aren't from around here, and maybe you think this isn't your fight. Maybe it really isn't. But if Professor Lorrimor says the entire city is at risk, I'll believe him, and will happily die fighting if need be to prevent this from happening.
Torsten nods.
I will honor Petros' last wishes, and stay to aid Kendra however I can. If that means taking up the Professor's cause, I will do so. If you will excuse me, I must go retrieve my possessions from the inn, and end the lease on my room. I will return forthwith.
He stalks out into the foyer.
"My dear, there's no need to talk about dying. It sounds grand and noble, but if we six are truly as competent as the Professor seems to have thought (although I can't see why he would in my case; I did save his life, but it was from street urchins), then we should be able to handle this little crisis without glorious death. Of course, I shall stay and honour the Professor's last wish."
"And this really is excellent brandy. Surely it cannot be local. Is it Andoren?"
"I shall stay as well. He did much for me, and the least I can do is respect his final wishes.
Kendra is tearing as you all declare your intent of staying. She wipes away the tears with the handkerchief from earlier today. Nodding gratefully, she sits down in the couch. "I don't know much of Harrowstone or the Whispering Way; Harrowstone is the ruined prison that stood on the hill south of here. But I would believe my father has some documentation in one of the books in this house. But if you wish to find out, I will do my best to help."
She turns to Venedictos after the remark of the brandy.
"I think it may be Varisian Brandy - but I could never stomach alcohol. I won't pretend to know. My father travelled all over the world."
She rises slightly from her seat to glance at the other tomes in the chest.
Knowledge: Religion check re Whispering Way:
The Whispering Way is a sinister organization of necromancers that has been active in the Inner Sea region for thousands of years.
"The professor felt Harrowstone dangerous enough to require these items from the false crypt - perhaps we should look there ourselves." Turning to Kendra and Valerya, he asks"Are the Restlands often frequented by the locals? Can we go there today without drawing unwanted attention, or should we wait until dark?"
"The Whispering Way is a nasty group of necromancers. Nothing nice or lovely about them, and they've been practicing their ugly craft for thousands of years. I could probably remember more if I got my hands on some appropriate books."
We better wait until darkness comes and go together. Although people regularly visit the Restlands, we'll have to search the crypt to find that stash the professor said about. Better yet, we can go now and find the crypt, so we'll know where to go and how to get there when the night comes.
Venedictos, there are some tomes in here, - she takes them out of the box that contained the diary - and a lot more in the house. If you'd like to study, you're in the right place!
knowledge: arcana
The Whispering Way is a sinister organization of necromancers that has been active in the Inner Sea region for thousands of years. (Venedictos already stated this)
Agents of the Whispering Way often seek alliances with undead creatures, or are themselves undead. The Whispering Way’s most notorious member was Tar-Baphon, the Whispering Tyrant, although the society itself has existed much longer than even that mighty necromancer.
Hearing conversation about leaving the house, Torsten pokes his head back in from the foyer.
Please allow me to return. I would accompany you to this cache. I will return shortly.
He ducks back into the foyer, and a moment later the front door opens and closes.
"Before we go rushing in there, wouldn't it behoove us to learn a bit about it? There's probably a reason he felt he was lucky to return after his first trip. We should prepare ourselves against what could be there."
Viktor will take a book out of the pile that he thinks might concern Harrowstone.
Harrowstone is a ruined prison — partially destroyed by a fire in 4661, the building has stood vacant ever since. The locals suspect that it’s haunted, and don’t enjoy speaking of the place.
The book Viktor picks up is strange; the covers are rimmed in polished steel and clasped with a small but intricate lock. The keyhole appears to be for a key with a strange, triangular shaft, and its key is nowhere to be found.
@Torsten: The walk through Ravengro is full of suspicious eyes, though the citizens all seem to look away when you return the glances. When you arrive at the tavern, you recognise the innkeeper from the funeral - Zokar greets you warmly and doesn't speak down to you or in a hostile tone.
Retrieving your blade and your belongings goes without incident.
Torsten approaches the innkeeper, his belongings in tow.
Zokar, thank you for attending Petros' funeral. I must take my leave of your amenable inn, but I must ask two questions of you, also. First, have any messages arrived for me? Also, why were we accosted on the way to the funeral? Some local townsfolk spoke rudely and seemed poised for violence before my new friend Venedictos talked them down. What fault would they have had with the professor?
"Kendra, could you show me to where the Professor kept the books on local history and that sort of thing, I'd like to find out more about this Harrowstone place. All I know right now is that it was a prison that partially burned down many years back. If we could find out anything more about it, it could prove invaluable."
"Could I perhaps join you? I seem to recall other references to The Whispering Way. Not only do they frequently ally themselves with undead, they count many such among their membership. I believe the Whipering Tyrant himself was a member, who I believe grew to some notoriety in these parts. Perhaps the professor may have kept some works on them as well."
Zokar twirls his moustache as he peers at Torsten, walking up to the man. "No, afraid I got no new messages for you. As for the locals... well, you haven't heard it from me," he says as he leans in close, "But there've been a couple of rumours of old Professor Lorrimor being involved with necromancers. A load of b&+*&*&s if you ask me, but some townsfolk will believe anything they hear."
Back in the mansion, Kendra nods at Viktor and is visibly uplifted with Aerys's involvement as well. "Yes, of course, I'll show you to my father's library - he has ... he had a study dedicated there."
She leads you back to the foyer and into another branch of the house; as soon as the doors swing open, several large bookshelves come in view, each seemingly in competition of being filled to the brim with more books. "This is the majority of father's collection," she says with a small hint of pride - and sadness. "There are certainly volumes to be found in every room of the house - apart from the latrine...which shouldn't come as a surprise. I hope."
"Thank you very much, Kendra. This is excellent. I should be able to find something about Harrowstone in here."
Benedictus will aid Viktor in his search:
Valerya smiles at the men searching the books; it's what the professor would have wanted, to have people searching for knowledge. She's not the most scholarly type, so she quietly walks out, calling her guard dog and walking around town.
She'll try finding any person she knew in this town, preferably someone who isn't prejudiced or hateful against her or the professor. Perhaps anyone the professor helped or tutored, etc. If she finds anyone, she'll remind the person about Lorrimor and ask about Harrowstone.
It is a long hour for Viktor and Venedictos as they skim through several tomes of lore, of all varieties - novels of great heroes, documented facts about the arcane, exploits of religious cults... Professor Lorrimor's notes are scribbled in the margins of almost every single book. Yet the research bears fruit. Two tomes had facts about Harrowstone.
Harrowstone was built in 4594. Ravengro was founded at the same time as a place where guards and their families could live and that would produce food and other supplies used by the prison. The fire that killed all of the prisoners and most of the guards destroyed a large portion of the prison’s underground eastern wing, but left most of the stone structure above relatively intact. The prison’s warden perished in the fire, along with his wife, although no one knows why she was in the prison when the fire occurred. A statue commemorating the warden and the guards who lost their lives was built in the months after the tragedy—that statue still stands on the riverbank just outside of town.
Most of the hardened criminals sent to Harrowstone spent only a few months imprisoned, for it was here that most of Ustalav’s executions during that era were carried out. The fire that caused the tragedy was, in fact, a blessing in disguise, for the prisoners had rioted and gained control of the prison’s dungeons immediately prior to the conflagration. It was only through the self-sacrifice of Warden Hawkran and 23 of his guards that the prisoners were prevented from escaping - the guards gave their lives to save the town of Ravengro.
Shortly after, there is a soft knock on the library door. Kendra's soft voice is heard: "Is your research coming along well?"
Valerya spends the hour in town, finding that the atmosphere has grown ever distant during the course of the year. Several townsfolk do acknowledge your presence, though their names escape you at the time.
Aerys will search through the volumes for any more information he can find regarding The Whispering Way.
Time:
Knowledge: Arcana
"Our research has gone very well. It has given us much insight as to who the 'Ghosts' mentioned in your father's journal could have been."
Kendra nods and smiles. Her face seems less burdened by sadness. "I prepared some tea and fresh fruit out in the living room. I would bring them here, but... father always kept food and drink out of the library, and I wish to honour that."
Aerys's three hours of intense research reveals more of the Whispering Way:
The Whispering Way is a sinister organization of necromancers that has been active in the Inner Sea region for thousands of years.
Agents of the Whispering Way often seek alliances with undead creatures, or are themselves undead. The Whispering Way’s most notorious member was Tar-Baphon, the Whispering Tyrant, although the society itself has existed much longer than even that mighty necromancer.
The Whispering Way itself is a series of philosophies that can only be transferred via whispers — the philosophies are never written or spoken of loudly, making the exact goals and nature of the secretive philosophy difficult for outsiders to learn much about.
"Thank you very much Kendra, tea and fruit sounds amazing right about now."
Viktor will take a short break, having tea and fruit with whoever else is there.
"Don't have too much fun while I'm gone, Aerys."