Part I.ii. - Crimes Not Forgotten

[Veritas]

The town hall is on the northern end of the town square, a larger building with an open concept; at the back is a door that leads to where the records are surely kept, a smaller room after rows of easily-moved benches and a raised dias to speak from. One person sits at the back, reading quietly; the older man, recognizable from the professor's funerals, is surely another of the town's councilors.

"Can I help you two?" he says. His eyes wander over Calaera more than over Fin; despite his age, his voice is strong, boisterous, and his body shifts forward, containing a little bit of a leer.

-------------------

The Temple of Pharasma quietly sits over the town, looking forward over it from a small hill. Its stone facade faces east, the doors lying open in wait. Pews are inside, facing the altar, upon which Father Grimburrow sits, reading a book as surely Solaz and Navene will find when they shortly arrive. His older, shrunken form is hunched and takes no notice of those approaching.

[joviality]

Navene steps quietly into the temple, motioning for Solaz to follow her. Before she announces her presence, she takes a moment to soak in the atmosphere of the temple, happy to once again be in the house of her deity. 

Coming out of her brief reverie, she steps forward, calling out to the old priest. "Hello, Father Grimburrow?"

She waits for him to look up at the two of them, a smile on her face and her hand on the holy symbol about her neck. She rubs it lightly, tracing its spiral shape with her thumb.

"We just wanted to thank you for your service yesterday. The funeral itself was well done, as I'm sure all of the ones you officiate are. The Lady was surely proud."

Navene pauses a moment, offering her hand to the man. 

"I'm Navene Dahlanthe, out of the temple in Ardis. It's truly an honor to meet you."

A look of great respect is on her face; truly, this man has served Pharasma more than she can imagine in his decades of being in the clergy. 

[Veritas]

The old man lets a smile cross over his wrinkle face as Navene and Solaz approach. His hands reach up and he clasps Navene's in both of his, revealing their gnarled, aged appearance. He is easily one of the oldest people anyone has ever seen, his passage to the boneyard delayed with good grace by Pharasma, it seems, so that he might continue to serve this village.

"Our funerals are done as they are done, my dear Navene. They will continue to be done that way long after I follow the path to the Restlands myself, I imagine. Things do not easily change in a town such as this."

He removes his hands and slides back into his chair. "Forgive me, age has made a mockery of me. The temple in Ardis, you say? I have seen that, once, long before you are born. The cities seem to reach here little, though I do not hold that against you and your companions. May I ask what brings you by my temple this morning?"

[comicsans12pt]

Solaz draws back almost imperceptively. She suspected Navene's comfort level would increase when she walked into the temple and it appears that is so. She is content to hear the small talk between kindred spirits.

As is typical of her, Solaz drifts off wondering how it is she was chosen to walk in the bright path of her Lady and Navene gets chosen by Lady Pharasma, whose path is darker but not so different.

She begins to hum à tune she thought of while carrying the coffin, but thinks twice as it may not please Pharasma.

Perhaps Navene will invite the ancient clérical to the monument....

[logan]

Fin looks around, noticing the unusually long stare at Calaera. Fin motions for her to take the lead, as he walks in.

"Greetings" say Fin, waiting for Calaera to lead the conversation, being the diplomat she is.

[joviality]

Navene smiles back at the old man as he grasps her hands, pleased that he greeted her so warmly. It was nice to know thar even in such a distrusting place as this town seemed to be, that their mutual bond to Pharasma was still respected. 

"Thank you for the welcome, sir."

She smiles and is clearly deferential in her manner toward the elder priest.  

"Forgive my manners; this is my friend Solaz, who you may remember from yesterday. She said a few kind words from Lady Sarenrae."

Navene looks between the gnome and the old man. She then takes a seat nearby the priest so that he does not feel bad for sitting. 

"We've come to the temple to thank you for the service and perhaps ask you a few questions if you have the time. For example, we'd noticed the beautiful gravestone placed in honor of the professor. Who can we thank for such craftsmanship?"

Navene looks a little shy for a moment, then continues speaking. 

"I must confess that I wanted to come to the temple for personal reasons as well; it is nice to be back in the house of Pharasma after a long journey."

[Veritas]

Father Grimburrow smiles to Navene as he listens to her, and then his head tilts towards Solaz. "Greetings. Worshippers of the Dawnflower are always welcome in this temple. Many Pharasmins sometimes forget about the power of the light, given that this town is shrouded in the dark. I sometimes enjoy the reminder. Others may not recall its import, and do not care to be shown that way. This country has long since basted in a too-dark shadow."

He smiles, the lines on his face deepening as he does so, before shifting his focus back to Navene. "This house is always open for those who need it. As for the professor's gravestone? I believe he had it arranged in Lepidstadt, for it was shipped here after his death. It was not unlike Petros to be prepared for all situations - even his own passing."

------------

In the town hall, for manners of campaign expediency, the councilman will greet Calaera as well. After a short discussion, he politely informs Calaera that the town hall's records are sealed. However, he will allow one person to review the records at a time. His eyes leer just a little during the conversation, but afterwards, he unlocks the door to the records room. It is suggested that Fin should be the person investigating there; matters of local record (such as the burnt prison) would be easier to research.

[logan]

Fin nods at Calaera as he steps forward and walks towards the door.

"Thank you, Councilman."

Fin approaches the door and walks in, the smell of old parchment and dust fills the air. It seems like this place doesn't get many visitors.

[Juniper]

Calaera smiles at Fin as he steps away, then widens that smile as she turns toward the councilman. Her voice is flirtatious. "My friend will be a while, I'm sure, but you've been living here years, haven't you? I'd much rather talk to you. Elves are well and good, but they just don't understand that life is short. Not like you or I. And from what I hear, this town has good reason to remember that from day to day. Surely your ghosts aren't as active as the stories, are they? I bet you know some good ones."

(diplomacy=[dice=20]+7 skill bonus+1 'cause he thinks I'm hot.][rand=02121158438042408629212271929511427821004479110359477065996268313]

[Veritas]

Fin heads into the back, where he begins to read on the topic of Harrowstone prison. In the meantime, the councilman smiles back to Calaera, and his head bobs very gently in her direction. "True as they say. Knowing what to do with the time you have is a gift for the short-lived. I tend to think in this direction myself, mostly."

The discussion of ghosts seems to move the councilman off edge, and he shakes his head and laughs. "No no. Ghosts? Just tales and rumours and an old legacy. This town has moved long away since...that...happened. No ghosts here. Just sleepy small-town living with a memory from an age long gone - an age gone for both Ravengro and Ustalav. I'm happy under the Palatinates. But it's best not to speak of such things, eh?"

[comicsans12pt]

Solaz smiles at Father Grimburrow and inclines her head in acknowledgement of his words.

"Your hospitality is greatly appreciated. You do your lady honor."

"I have no need to hasten your visit along but request that when all obligations are offered, you might join us on a short trek to the monument to the fallen in the prison fire. Perhaps you can offer information about it. It does stimulate the imagination."

[Veritas]

The elder man looks to Solaz as she makes her request, and a smile crosses his face again. His head moves slowly, left and right, his over-large ears bobbing just a bit. "It is a short walk perhaps for you, who are shorter than I but far more hale. For me, it is a long and painful hobble across the bridge. Rarely will you even see me as far as the town. The memorial, though, I can tell you, has the names of the 23 guards who died in the fire, as well as the warden and his wife, who also perished. Other than that, it is an unremarkable piece of stone that the curious sometimes pause. The town uses it to answer the question of what happened at Harrowstone, rather than have to discuss the place themselves. I will admit a certain reluctance to delve into the subject myself as well, though there is little to say about it that cannot be found in a book somewhere."

[logan]

Fin continues looking through the records as Calaera talks to the man just outside the door. He believes that he has found most of the relevant information in the records, but scans the room and other files quickly.

Perception check for any other records which might be helpful, that perhaps were out of place or hidden.

[dice=20] + 8[rand=5488652353496664188905998001303428781363450735449880641228939095]

[comicsans12pt]

Solaz lowers her head to the old man. "My apologies if I have offended you by bringing up the subject. Certainly the pain of such a loss is only compounded by idle speculation about the events surrounding an old wound. I have spoken in haste and beg your generous pardon. "

[joviality]

Navene listens to the exchange between Solaz and Father Grimburrow, nodding at appropriate times. She understands the old man's concern. He has much work left to do for Pharasma, and no sense in testing her grace too much.

"I see.." she says in response to his notes on the monument. "We shall be fine on our own then; no sense in hurting your joints." She smiles, then her expression grows more grim.

"I'm afraid it's rather more grsly, but we do have a few other questions if you don't mind." She bows her head slightly. "I trust we can speak with you about it though, as you are more capable than most. We have come to learn that the professor's death may have... unseemly circumstances, as you may already know." She gives a significant glance to Solaz and the priest. "We believe that Petros may have uncovered something evil - and in his search to fight it, it consumed him. Perhaps you know more about the circumstances surrounding the Professor's death? We are but seeking answers."

Navene is honest in her supplication of the old priest's aid and wisdom; as always, she seeks guidance from her faith in Pharasma and her agents. She has begun to stroke her holy symbol again; from so close, Father Grimburrow can clearly see it is worn from her frequent worrisome ministrations.