Part I.ii. - Crimes Not Forgotten

[joviality]

Navene looks down on the rat in disgust.

"You are correct; I am not squeamish. And I agree with you, the attention of the others should be brought to this."

She bends down and picks up the rat from the tail, places it in the piece of cloth she had previously gathered the blood in, and wraps it up into a neat little package.

"Not to be morbid, but perhaps this can be useful for discovering the perpetrator. Would you like to explore the rest of the grounds, or head elsewhere?"

[comicsans12pt]

"I think that might be all we'll find in the daylight. We should probably get back to Kendra's to check on her and let the others know what we have found. They may have found some thing as well. Then we can plan our next steps."

Solaz closes her eyes and says a prayer to Sarenrae to protect Kendra and the others and for guidance in this quest.

She then turn to Navene and says, "Thank you for gathering that poor creature. Shall we go?"

Solaz turns, pulls the spinning out of her pocket and says, "There is pleasant little tavern song about the dangers of telling lies to your boss. It goes like this....."

And she began to walk and to sing.....

[logan]

"Thank you for your help. We should be getting back to Kendra's now, it's nearly time to help her prepare for dinner."

Fin eager to get out of there is hoping that Calaera will make haste to leave, as Fin is increasingly unsettled with the idea of being so close to law enforcement.

[Juniper]

Calaera thanks the sheriff politely and follows Fin out of the shop. His discomfort is clear to her, even if the cause is not, and he's right about getting back to Kendra's.

[Veritas]

It is later in the day by the time the four people reunite at the Lorrimor Place, information gleamed from all about. Chouko is still curled up in one chair or another, a stack of books nearby as Ping chews on small leafy greens tossed to him by Kendra at one time or another, who seems to have taken a liking to the creature.

The smell of cooking fish fills the house, the soft, supple flesh baking in the kitchen. Two bottles of wine and an assortment of cheeses, meats, and lumps of bread wait in the front sitting room for the returning party members. Kendra can be heard in the kitchen, but not seen, as she has the door firmly closed.

[logan]

Fin looks around, eyeing up the delicious food left before them. Upon spotting the bottles of wine, he is quick to grab one and inspect it. Just beside them on the table lays a well aged, cork screw.

Fin thinks about picking it up, but decides to wait. Instead he takes some cheese and bread, and sits in a seat in the corner. "It looks like Kendra is well-busy taking care of supper. Maybe this would be a good time to discuss our findings."

[comicsans12pt]

Solaz watches Fin looking at the wine and then passing on it. As he picks up food from the trays, Solaz walks up behind him, picks up the corkscrew and opens one of the bottles. She helps herself to her own helping of food, pours Fin a glass of wine, pours herself one, hands one to Fin, picks up her own and moves to an outside chair so as not to be in the way.

All of this is done with an efficiency of movement that hardly bears noticing. Once in the chair she waits for the others to begin getting food and then she says, "I hope you were able to glean some information from your travels this morning?"

Without waiting for an answer, she goes on. "We began at the graveyard. The crypt with the alleged tools was very visible from the town so we elected to visit the Professor's grave instead. There is a very nice stone there."

She turns to Navene. "Navene, dear, i can't remember if that nice groundskeeper told us who was responsible for the stone. Do you remember?"

Without waiting for a response she prattles on. "Then we went to visit Father Grimbarrow. I'm sure it was a good thing for Navene to recharge her batteries so to speak. He declined to come with us to the monument so we headed there alone after our visit."

She stops for a second as if deciding how to tell the next part. She takes a swig of the wine and barrels in. "Our next discovery was a bit grim. The monument had a 'V' painted on it in blood. Now, i'm pretty sure it doesn't correspond to any dark deities, it must be a personal thing. When we looked around, we found a dead rat that had been de-sanguinated. Navene was kind enough to bring it back with us if any of you care to look at it after our meal. We felt that it was news enough to come back and discuss with you."

"Navene, please feel free to add what i haven't covered." Solaz picks up some food and takes a bite-looking around the room for the next information the be dispensed.

[joviality]

"The stone was sent for; it was not made locally. It had an inscription on it that Solaz could read... it was kind of eerily beautiful... do you remember it?"

She thinks a moment about the rest of their day.

"You've covered most of the bases. A few grim discoveries, and a general sense of mistrust about the town. Even Father Grimburrow - though kindly to us - seemed to be keen on us not putting our noses where they don't belong. I can sympathize to a degree... but I feel as though there are greater things to be worried about here than the simple decorum of the town."

Finishing her report, she turns to her friend Calaera. It looked as though she was thinking of what to say next.

"Calaera, what did you discover today? Anything helpful?"

[logan]

"Thank you."

Fin takes a drink from the wine. Thinking that it's good, but perhaps not with the same robust flavor that the wine from yesterday had. None the less, Fin was pleased to have the drink.

Fin jumps in, before Calaera gets to answer.

"We learned a bit today. We went to the blacksmith, town hall and even talked to the Sheriff about what happened..."

Fin takes another drink of the wine and sets the glass down.

"We didn't get much information from the smith. A little more luck at town hall... the records they had said that Harrowstone was used for many of the most brutal criminals in the land. Stays were short as quick execution was the usual. Apparently there was a big riot from the prisoners, occurring shortly after a group of particularly fearsome prisoners were locked up there. The riots got out of control, and the prisoners took control of the lower levels. The warden was able to activate a deadfall and trap them inside. The only thing was... it also trapped himself and 23 guards inside the sealed area. Then in the rioting, a fire started, which consumed those trapped inside."

Fin looked around the room, and then continued...

"There wasn't much more information about the incident beyond that, but I can see why the townspeople are sensitive about the topic."

"We also went to the Sheriff and he told us about how he found Petros."

Fin checks, making sure the door to the kitchen was still firmly planted shut. Lowering his voice, before continuing..

"The professor was found just inside the prison, face smashed in by an apparent collapse and fall of a large brick or stone from the prison. The Sheriff seems to believe that this was just an accident, a misfortune to be in a building that unstable."

Fin pauses for a moment, mulling over the details.

"Although there was a fire, and the building has not been receiving maintenance, I question whether or not this is what actually happened. I know that a building like that is built solid, and built strong. Prisons don't fall apart. Those stone walls are to out-live the flesh and bones inside of them."

Fin, deciding that perhaps he was sharing too much about his knowledge of the inside of prisons... stops to take a drink of his wine.

"I think that's all we got. Maybe Calaera can add anything I missed."

[Veritas]

Calaera will nod and she will agree with what Fin has added. The information is correct that the elf disseminates. She will slip to the back of the room for now, watching.

"Chouko," she says. "You've spent the day researching here. Have you found anything of note?"

(AKA: the "NPCing someone" post.)

[`Nessa]

Chouko watches Ping caper and beg the greens from Kendra as the others, taking the information in slowly. When addressed, she looks up and shrugs. "The Professor has many books, and it would take a life time to read them all and learn all that there is to know. I found little else about the prison than what we already know, but there was a note scribbled about one of the inmates. His given name was Vance Saetressle, but he was more widely known as the Lopper. He apparently had a penchant for stalking his victims, hiding in very usual places and waiting until the victim was alone. Once they were, he would leap out of hiding to savage them with a hand axe. He delighted in this kind of carnage, and none of his victims survived. He was incarcerated, awaiting execution, at the time of the fire. I'm not sure why the Professor had singled out this one prisoner, but he must have felt he was important; the note was in his hand writing.

"I think perhaps it might be wise if we went to this prison, as much as I hate the thought of going. Places of such violence often harbor evil, and if that is where the Professor was found I think it might be wise if we begin there. He was searching for something there, he must have been! Why else go there in the first place otherwise?"

[Veritas]

Kendra steps out from the kitchen after Chouko continues revealing information about one of the criminals. She closes the door a hint heavily with her hip, and her face is slightly pale - as if she had heard Chouko's plan. However, she doesn't say anything. Instead, she brings out two large plates - one with two fish arrayed upon it, and the other loaded with cut and boiled potatoes. She sets them down at the table, disappearing and returning with two bottles of wine and a wooden bowl of fresh butter.

Dinner passes slowly; Kendra seems intent on avoiding any discussion of your day's investigation and instead pointedly asks about each person's life.

First, she turns to Navene, and leans in a little closer. "My dear Navene," she starts. "I understand you're from Ardis, and one of the priests there at the large Temple of Pharasma. But father always mentioned in his notes that things weren't quite right. That you were considered a hint of a rogue. Perhaps you could elaborate on that for me?"

Next, after interrogating Navene, her eyes turn to to Calaera. She smiles, as she asks, "I know that you are Navene's constant companion, and I am sure your relationship is more than friendship at that point. I'm not suggesting anything improper," she hastens to add, "But I merely meant that some friendships transcend simple friendship. I know there's a sort of dedication you've made through your training. Perhaps you could speak to that point?"

Next, she leans across the table, offering Solaz the tray of potatoes and a healthy slap of butter to smear over them. "Solaz, my father often thought of you as a ray of light when all around seems dark. He said your attitude was untouchable and usually fond. I'm glad he knew you. Could you comment on how the Dawnflower's faith touches dreary Ustalav?"

Afterwards, she beckons over Ping, offering him a small green she seems to have secreted away under her plate. Once the animal is munching happily, she smiles to the pet's master. "Chouko, you have come far - over the Crown of the World, I understand, and through the Land of the Linnorm Kings and Varisia. Is there any interesting sights or stories from your journey you can share?"

Last, she looks to Fin. She seems to have no problem meeting his gaze. In fact, she stares straight to him. She smiles. "Father always said you valued your privacy, dear Fin. I can appreciate that, so I'd like to ask you, which of your alchemical achievements do you consider most dear? And on the same line, is there perhaps a dream you have in mind to create?"

(OOC: Feel free to answer these in any order, as in-depth as you care for. If you need character or regional background information, let me know.)

[logan]

After hearing the questions to each of the others, Fin is surprised that he was spared of such personal questions.

"My greatest alchemical achievement... I honestly would have to say the greatest thing that alchemy has helped me achieve is power. Most of my life... I have been on my own, forced to fend for myself. A victim of circumstance. The knowledge and skills have allowed me to survive and stand up for myself. It has allowed me to shape the world around me."

Fin takes another drink of his wine, finishing the glass poured for him earlier. Fin grabs the open bottle and pours himself another glass, filling it perhaps a little higher than most would as a dinner guest.

"A dream to create? I would like to create a philosopher's stone. The riches would be unimaginable."

Fin takes another long drink of the wine. Setting down his glass, Fin takes a portion of the fish and a heap of potatoes and sets them on his plate.

"Supper looks delicious, Kendra."

[joviality]

Navene blushes slightly at being called a rogue - she thought of herself as anything but.

"Yes, I come from Ardis, with Calaera here. I was left at the temple of Pharasma there as a babe, and fell enraptured with the ways of the Grey Lady."

She takes a moment, visibly looking for a proper way to phrase her next thought.

"I don't know if 'rogue' is the best way to define it; I have always felt called differently from most priests, however. More drawn to combat those who are abomination in the eyes of Pharasma, and who work against the interests of a more righteous Ustalav.

Petros may have told you, I practice a special form of penance that is common to few Pharasmins. I believe that through meditation and beseeching the Lady of Graves, it is possible to take the sins of another into oneself. Then, I may request atonement not for another, but for myself. This frees the soul to ascend to paradise free of any evil nature. I see it as a final kindness."

Navene bows her head for a moment, and small tears can be seen welling in her eyes.

"It is this which I practice at funerals I have officiated, and which Petros had requested I do for him when his time came. Tonight I hope to seek absolution for him through me, though it is a light load I am sure. I would have prayed on this last night, but with the books and poor sleeping, my mind has been in disarray."

She wipes her eyes, surprised at herself for the amount of emotion she has let shown. That book from last night... it still haunted her thoughts and made her mind feel disjointed.

[Veritas]

The day has turned to evening as the talk continues, and your hostess guides the conversation deftly as she gives the others time to consider her pointed questions. She steps away for but a moment, returning with another bottle of wine to share, filling each glass appropriately (and if she gives Fin the extra bit at the bottom of the bottle, then who can blame her). Kendra slides back down into her seat; the window behind her reveals the sun dropping below the horizon. Ravengro is shrouded in night.

Yet she still plays the part of hostess well. After the second answer, from Navene, she disappears and returns with honeyed cakes for dessert, a small stack for each person. As she sets the plates down before each person, she passes the door to the front room where - she has insisted - the party leave their weapons. They are not tolerated at the table (save for a small hip dagger and the like).