Part I.i. - The Last Will and Testament...

[Juniper]

Calaera remains silent, bracing herself against the weight of the coffin. She is content to let Navene speak for them both; after all, her friend has a duty to Pharasma and the mild-mannered man she remembers seems unlikely to be the necromancer the townsfolk claim.

Wait a minute. Necromancer? "Have they evidence for this claim?" She hisses the question at Navene. "Surely if he were a necromancer you would have felt the evil on him years ago. If they have no evidence...drop my family's name."

[OOC: Sorry for no posts...major internet meltdown. Also, could use some info on my own backstory here, Veritas. Did you make decisions about my political status/noble relations?]

[Veritas]

The wild ministrations of Fin and the firm declaration of Navene seem to have the mob off balance, and they lean back. Gibs looks around at them, and then he starts to snarl something that sounds like an order. "Damn this, and damn them! They want nothing more than their necromantic ways to get all in our Restlands! Pick it up, boys, and-"

"And what?" wheezes an older voice. The crowd parts, going silent, as a very old, stooped man leaning on a staff moves from behind. He wears the robes and symbols of Pharasma, clearly the head priest here, Father Grimburrow. Behind him come the two acolytes of the church in this town, who had previously declared the funeral beginning. "Go home, Gibs. And the rest of you."

The crowd, already frightened, disperses quickly, leaving only the old cleric and his two assistants blocking the way. "Bring him along. We shan't have any trouble from them further."

[joviality]

Navene does not react to the chiding of her fellow pallbearers, knowing that she is correct in her stance against the foolish townsfolk. Though her companions are less ...direct... in their attempts to get the townspeople to accede, Navene does take note that they at least have the sense to do so, and is secretly thankful. Any method to continue with the funeral is a good method. She particularly enjoyed the elf's story; if she were better at telling lies, it would have been one she would have said herself. Nodding at Calaera's words, Navene is as always thankful for her companion's support.

Although she was prepared to continue to defend the dead man from such blasphemers, the sight of Father Grimburrow stops her. Visibly relaxed when the priest takes control of the situation, Navene quickly defers to his authority. Relieved to see the townsfolk go, Navene happily follows Grimburrow's request to begin moving forward.

[Veritas]

Forward the procession goes, and it is not long before the casket and the mourners reach Professor Lorrimor's final resting place. A small contraption has been rigged up, and the casket is placed atop it, with Father Grimburrow's hand guiding it. He then steps back, motioning for the pallbearers to do the same.

Kendra holds up her handkerchief and dabs her eyes, though she is not yet crying - perhaps still in shock from the interruption of Gibs and his gang. "My father was a brave man, and a learned scholar," she says, quietly, though her voice is not terribly hard to hear in the gentle quiet of the Restlands. "He...he did many great things in his life. He travelled to Jalmeray and mediated between the three great orders there, and over the Crown of the World to see Tian-Xia. He...he defeated a great spirit in his youth, all the way to the east, in Mosswater, before it was lost. And he gave lectures to the smartest people in Lepidstadt. Yet...he was my father, and a good one. I shall miss you, father," she finishes, before looking up. Now she cries.

"Would anyone else like to say anything?"

[`Nessa]

It was with great relief that Chouko set down her end of the coffin, and then waited patiently while Ping climbed back up onto his accustomed spot on her shoulder, chittering loudly. She tore off another small piece of the bread she had hidden up her sleeve and offered it to him, then bowed her head as Kendra spoke. She hadn't known the Professor had had a daughter...

When the offer was made, she stepped forward and removed her hat, holding it in front of her. "It has been... many years since I last saw the Professor. He was a wise man, there to learn from and teach my brother monks. I learned much from him, but mostly about kindness. I will never forget him, for his willingness to sit and speak with an unworthy child - to tell her stories and teach her to play "Silly Buggers." I wish him peace now, that he may now speak with angels, and that I may be fortunate enough to meet him again in another incarnation."

She bows to the casket and then steps back, hat still in hand and head bowed.

[joviality]

Navene sets her corner of the casket down gently, and takes her place among the mourners. She listens to Chouko's speech, nodding approvingly as she praises the professor's better attributes. When Chouko finishes, Navene clears her throat and steps forward, indicating that she would like to speak next. She closes her eyes for a moment, and places her hands upon the front of the casket lovingly. Opening her eyes, Navene begins to speak softly, but loud enough for those gathered to hear.

"When Petros and I first met, it was a dark night in the streets of Ardis. He was cornered by a group of petty street thugs, who were ready to take his life for a bit of coin. Fortunately, I was able to fend them off, saving not only his purse but his life as well. Alas, I cannot save you now, dear professor. However, perhaps I can help to save your soul, as I promised to you and myself years ago that I would."

Navene pauses a moment for her words to sink in, then closes her eyes and begins to pray.

"Oh Lady of Graves, I beseech thee. Take into your arms the soul of this man, and guide him to his final rest. I offer myself up in supplication to you, so that the sins of Petros Lorrimor might become my own. Overlook the sins of this man, for they are no longer his. Wash him clean in your waters, and welcome him to the Boneyard as an old friend."

As Navene finishes her prayer, a look of peace crosses her face and she seems to become much more relaxed. Reaching into an accessible pocket, Navene pulls out a small ornate wooden box with Pharasma's holy symbol engraved on its lid. Opening it gingerly, she withdraws from it several dried black rose petals, and a dried beetle. These she places onto the professor's casket, arranging them into a spiral.

With that final symbolic act, Navene steps slowly back from the casket and retakes her place among the mourners. She looks invigorated and slightly cheerful, and is somber no more.

[comicsans12pt]

Solaz is grateful the casket is lowered both because it was heavy but also because she can see the others with it resting on the ground.

She makes note of Father Grimburrow and his two acolytes and listens to the elegies by Lorrimor's daughter and other friends. She also notes that most of those congregated here are not people he would have seen on a daily basis. We are all strangers that had limited contact with him and yet we seem to have a better handle on who he was than those who shared his township.

She steps up to speak, being conscious of her small stature and foreign look.

"I would like to thank the Lady Pharasma for allowing me to be a part of these rites. My Lady Sarenrae counts her as an ally and i am honoured to represent her here."

Then with no other introduction: "The Professor took great pleasure in the tavern songs i had collected over the years. We travelled together over the course of several days many years ago. On a few occaisions i have had the pleasure of a reply to inquiries i sent concerning some of the things i knew he was expert in."

"He was on his way to lecture and i was companion to a child who'd died of a fever and to be laid to rest in her parents' home. He was an enlightening and pleasurable travelling companion. He told me some things that i would never divulge becuase of my status as a cleric of Serenrae, but i know that what they accused him of was not true."

"It is always sad to say goodbye to a friend-even one that only occaisionally communicates. And while i have great faith that his redemption is now complete, i am still sad that the man who could laugh at a bawdy song and then turn the conversation to serious matters, is no longer available for consultation and frindship."

She turns to the casket and careful not to touch what Navene had placed there. She backs away from the casket and says quietly, "Rest well dear friend."

She then goes to join the others.

[Juniper]

Calaera smiles wistfully as Navene speaks. She doesn't really believe in the whole sin-eating thing, but it is a kindness, and reflects the essential selflessness of her friend's character. She listens respectfully to the gnome and then steps forward herself, the smile growing to one of genuine humor as she sees the Professor's kind face in her mind's eye.

"I am afraid my relationship with this man was more in the nature of a business arrangement than the personal relationship some of you were lucky enough to enjoy. I'm afraid I milked him for all he was worth, selling him access to the libraries and archives of my family in Ardis. He knew it, too. He'd grin at me as he paid me...

"I don't think I have ever met another man who took such joy in knowledge. I am no scholar, but I read every book he ever recommended. It doesn't matter what the topic was, he knew something about it. It was through his suggestions that I learned military strategy, several rather useful tricks with a sword and on a horse, and it was a thin red volume he gave me once that held the oath by which I live my life."

Her eyes drift to Navene for a moment, then she clears her throat and goes on. "Without ever saying a word, this man taught me a great deal of honor and friendship. Whatever else he may have done with his life - well, we are none of us perfect, and I think the gods will forgive. He was a good man, and there are few enough of those in the world."

She steps back to stand by Navene.

[logan]

Fin, having listened to the words of the others, decides to step forward.

"I would like to say that... Professor Lorrimor was a man of incredible dedication and knowledge. Although I had only met him on two occasions, and both were rather brief, I have read many of his books and feel that the knowledge he passed on was a legacy greater than my words can do justice."

"May he rest in peace, on the love and well wishes of those that care for him."

With those words, Fin stepped back in to the line with the motley crew.

[Veritas]

Father Grimburrow steps forward after this and murmurs a prayer to Pharasma, sprinkling water on the grave, and then he steps back with a slow finality that seems to indicate the ceremonies have finished. He looks to the mourners, and then approaches Kendra, speaking quietly with her.

As this happens, one of the older, rather important-looking men who made up the small train of local mourners approaches. He straightens his robes as he gazes over the group of strangers to this town. "Hello," he says stuffily, and rather rapidly. "I am Vashian Hearthmount, one of the Councilmen of Ravengro. I have the honour of acting as Petros's executor. I will be at the Lorrimor residence in exactly one hour to read his will. Kendra is aware of this, and I believe she will be taking you with her shortly. Good day to you for now."

With that, the rather portly man bustles fast, caught up in self-importance. A few moments later, Kendra approaches. Her eyes are still puffy and red, but she is standing straighter, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She smiles a little bit. "My father spoke of you all, and he had kind words to say about you. Thank you for everything, and for saying such kind things. If you will come with me, there are drinks and food at our...at my house," she says, as she steps past you, to lead you towards a larger, but not corpulent, house that sits on the west bank of the river.

[comicsans12pt]

Solaz steps forward and says, "Thank you dear. That would be most welcome and is most gracious of you. May i walk with you?"

Solaz listens to Kendra and at some point her mind begins to wander. She used to get so annoyed with herself about that but slowly learned to just accept it about herself and try to catch up with the conversation when she caught herself.

She was niggled during the funeral about a song. Somewhere south, she seems to remember, is where she first heard it but it was one that was widely spread. About a funeral. A fat lady. Hmmm... What was Kendra saying?

Solaz says, "It is always hard at first, my dear. But when you realize just how much pain a body is capable of producing, you come to realize that sometimes it is a blessing. If i may, I would like to pray for you." Usually, if you ask to pray for them, they forget that what you've just said is entirely irrelevant. Let's hope it works with her.

Adele was her name. Solaz began to sing quietly to herself....

[logan]

Fin is eager to leave these grounds, worried that the mob might return. He steps in line behind Kendra, and begins to follow her.

[`Nessa]

The promise of food is most welcome, Chouko still hadn't eaten since she arrived and even her dedicated training was having a hard time keeping her mind off of her empty stomach. She fell into line, keeping well to the back of the group. The mob still bothered her, but she didn't think that they would be back, not yet. Father Grimburrow would be sufficient protection for the remains of the dead man; the townsfolk would be foolish indeed if they dared to risk the wrath of their local priest. However, she would certainly exercise both speed and caution when it was time to return to the monastery because she didn't trust these people at her back...

[joviality]

Now with renewed vigor after the interment, Navene nods her thanks to Kendra for the invitation to dinner and follows along behind her, Calaera at her side. Far less somber than before, Navene chats idly with Calaera about a number of things, biding her time until the group reaches the Lorrimor household.

She spares a moment to glance around at the group, now for the first time able to divert her attention from the task at hand. She had a liking for the gnome, who so graciously extended Sarenrae's blessing to the professor. The elf seemed a bit guarded, but had said such kind and true words about the professor at the burial site that her opinion about him was not yet drawn. The foreign woman with the pet... whatever the pet was (she had never seen anything like it)... she had clearly traveled far to come to this funeral, which respectable, as were her words at the burial. Navene had yet to determine what the Tien woman's reaction to her chiding of the townspeople meant for them going forward, however. Lastly, the large blonde man was the most mysterious of the group. Arriving late and not saying anything at Petros' funeral made her wonder about what sort of relationship he and the professor had. He was clearly Ustalavan in dress, and a guardsman by the look of it, but beyond that she was unsure.

She pushes these thoughts out if her head for the time being, and was pleased to see that the Lorrimor household had gotten much closer while she had been somewhat lost in thought.

[little]

Reto nodded to Kendra and smiled at her, thanking her for the invitation back to the house. The young man wanted to be comforting to Kendra because of her loss, but he didn't seem to able to find words... or at least anything he considered to be especially comforting right now.

Once passed Kendra, Reto made his way towards Fin. He clasped both his hands on the elf's shoulders from behind.

"That was quite an impressive job back there. You really threw off that angry crowd. What's your name, friend?"

(OOC: sorry for the last of posts. I've been working the 5am shift at the radio station and the early mornings have me all messed up.)