Carrion Crown: The Haunting of Harrowstone [IC]

[lostsole31]

When Harrowstone Prison burned to the ground, prisoners, guards, and a host of vicious madmen met a terrifying end. In the years since, the nearby town of Ravengro has shunned the fire-scarred ruins, telling tales of unquiet spirits that wander abandoned cellblocks. But when a mysterious evil disturbs Harrowstone's tenuous spiritual balance, a ghostly prison riot commences that threatens to consume the nearby village in madness and flames. Can the adventurers discover the secrets of Harrowstone and quell a rebellion of the dead? Or will they be the spirit-prison's next inmates?

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Name [Player]	Color	Race [Ethnicity] (gender ID)	AL	Side 1	Side 2
Abrax [kvard51]	Navy Blue	Aasimar [Garundi, Lawbringer] (m)	LN	Monk (Pharasma) 3 [Soul Shepherd]	Psychic 3
Hargrimm Saresun [SwordChucks]	Blue	Dwarf (m)	LG	Cleric (Folgrit) 3	Radiant 3
Marius Nicolescu [Ason]	Dark Green	Human [Varisian] (m)	LG	Harbinger 3	Investigator 3 [Bonded Investigator]
Othello Marewarden [BuckGodot]	Golden Rod	Dwarf (m)	LG	Paladin (Iomedae) 3 [Undead Scourge]	Warder 3 [Ordained Champion]
Razvan Milosoveanu [Moriar]	Purple	Dhampir [Varisian] (m)	LN	Gunslinger 3 [Pistolero]	Inquisitor (Pharasma) 3 [Kinslayer]
Wren Elbourne [NPC]	Indigo	Human [Taldan] (m)	??	Detective?	Musician? He mentioned "magic he knows?"
Zauberei [Tippnick]	Gray	Human [Vudrani] (m)	N	Cleric (Nethys) 3	Wizard 3

[lostsole31]

Abrax

Description 6'2", 185 lbs.

Abrax has the head of a boar. Tall and heavily muscled with skin the color of burnished bronze. Wears loose-fitting travelers' clothes with soft boots. Sometimes wears a wide-brimmed, floppy hat when on the road to keep his animalistic features hidden from the casual viewer.

Personality

A bit gruff upon first meeting, Abrax becomes far more boisterous once he knows you. Quick with a quip, oftentimes inappropriate in nature. If you earn his loyalty, it is yours forever. Once he is sure battle will be joined, he is just as quick to charge as he is with a joke.

Home of Record

Sothis, Osirion

[lostsole31]

Hargrimm Saresun

Description 4' 3", 192 lbs.

Hargrimm is a typical stout dwarf. His black beard is neatly combed and reaches halfway down his chest. His face is neutral, bordering on a frown. He wears orange cleric's vestments with grey piping underneath his scale mail. He carries no weapon but his walking stick, and has a buckler on his left arm.

Personality

Hargrimm is a devout worshiper of Folgrit and as such he follows the Folgritite paladin's code. He rarely smiles unless he's around children as he sees it as his duty to make their childhoods happier than his. With adults he has almost no bedside manner; he makes sure that they are healthy, and then moves them along.

Home of Record

Vische, County Barstoi, Ustalav

[lostsole31]

Marius Nicolescu

Description 5' 10", 170 lbs.

Marius has a gymnast's body: strong yet lean, hardy but not burly. His skin is pale from years of studying indoors and from Ustalav's more northern climate. The man's blue eyes are framed by well-maintained black hair, and his clothes are modest but not threadbare or unkempt. Altogether, the man has the look of someone who, while not wealthy or vain enough to spend much on his appearance and grooming, does work hard to be seen as sufficiently respectable and professional for the academic circles in which he travels.

Personality

--Grim Pessimist: assumes the worst and thus dreads most future scenarios, draws a strange strength from embracing grief and the inevitability of death
--Methodical Researcher: pursues knowledge because it's the best defense against the bleak future that surely awaits him and can better help others
--Duty to Others: has always felt called to help others get through this life (first militia, now medicine); medical ethics training now gives structure to his morals
--Detached Self-Awareness: years facing death, both in the wilds and in the physician's classroom, have left Marius aware of his own mortality and fallibility
--Self-Disciplined: militia and medical training have givem him firm self-control
--Eager to please others and be liked, though his depressing views hinder this
--Well-read and bookish but prefer nonfiction books over poetry and novels
--Soft-spoken and mild-mannered
--Amateur locksmith as private hobby, thinks it hones his problem-solving skills
--Enjoys cards but hates gambling (always assumes he'll lose and bad bluffer)
--Teetotaler but not preachy about it
--Prone to self-doubt
--Can see people as subjects, not individuals, if he gets stuck in "doctor mode"

Home of Record

Cortaud, County Lozeri, Ustalav

[lostsole31]

Othello Marewarden

Description 4' 5", 220 lbs.

Kind grey-eyes with auburn hair and a long beard, intricately woven in typical dwarvish style. Clear laugh wrinkles and crows feet, with red cheeks and a slightly bulbous nose. You can't help but look at this dwarf and smile because you know from the twinkle in his eye that there is fun and laughter soon to come. But underneath is a stocky well balanced and muscular body that clearly knows how to deliver damage and wield weaponry. He seems very sure on his feet.

Personality

Jovial. Fun-loving. Not at all the typical, dour dwarf. Always has a smile, kind word, and a joke at hand. Big booming laugh.

Home of Record

Druma

[lostsole31]

Razvan Milosoveanu

Description 5' 10", 160 lbs.

Razvan appears to be a wiry man with a pale complexion. He looks to be sturdy but there is something off putting about his mannerisms and looks. He wears basic clothing that often appears dirty, along with his long black hair. The most notable items are his fine leather belt and pistol strapped to his waist.

Personality

Razvan doesn't appreciate being misled after what he has been through and often is of a serious demeanor. The only things that seem to bring him joy and purpose these days seem to be exerting the Lady of the Graves' will. Though on occasion he does enjoy the finer things in life; but as his current economic situation often prevents that, it is a rare occurrence.

Home of Record

Ustalav

[lostsole31]

Zauberei

Description 5' 3", 130 lbs.

He is short and small statured with a dark complexion. Well kept. He does not dress richly, though his clothes are otherwise finely made.

Personality

Zauberei is a studious sort that people feel comfortable with, maybe due to his smallish stature. He is good-natured with people, often joking. However his magic is his utmost passion.

He is completely asexual-aromantic, having no preference because he feels no compunction for sexual or romantic connection.

Home of Record

Arcanamirium, Absalom

[lostsole31]

Having come from not-quite-near and some quite far away, an almost disrespectfully small group convenes at the Restlands, the burial grounds of the small town of Ravengro. The group has gathered with Kendra Lorrimor and a fine coffin containing the body of her father, each PC's one-time friend and ally Petros Lorrimor.

Although he was getting on in years, Petros' death was rather sudden and his daughter, Kendra, a 25-year-old woman who has lived in Ravengro for nearly 15 years (having moved here from Lepidstadt after her father retired from teaching), is still in mourning. Her eyes are red and puffy and she dresses in dark, conservative clothes. Trim and attractive, Kendra greets the PCs with a mixture of curiosity, sadness, and relief—no one else has come to pay their respects to her father, and “with things the way they are in town these days,” very few folks from Ravengro have come out for the funeral as well. Kendra waves off questions for now, promising the PCs that after her father is buried and they return to her house, she’ll answer any questions they have—both about her father’s death and about his will.

All of you have just arrived after a long trip, and you are all outfitted with weapons, armor, and starting gear. However, as that is onerous for most to carry for most funeral processions, there are waystations at the entrances to the Restlands for people to drop off anything they don't want to schlepp around a cemetery ... or don't want to seem disrespectful by schlepping around a cemetery.

Kendra looks to the assembled group (PCs and others) and asks, "Are any of you willing to serve as pallbearers for my father?"

[Moriar]

"Greetings favored relation of the spectacular Professor Lorrimor. It is an honor to meet you.

It would be an honor to assist in the transportation of the wooden shell containing my old friend."

Razvan then does a slight bow to her and then oddly scans the area.

Spoiler: paranoid much

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Razvan will eye the assembled people with senses and lore learn learn and identifyall he can about those he can see.

Then with an intense stare scans the area with detect undead

[Tippnick]

Zauberei had left his backpack at a waystation. Then grabs his spellbook and casts a spell. The spellbook disappears. He approaches the lady with his staff in hand. In a quiet unassuming voice he says, "I will be honored to carry the professor to his eternal rest. You have my condolences. He was a very learned man and had my utmost respect."

Spoiler: Spellcast

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Casting Secluded Grimoire

[Kvard51]

Abrax bows his head to Kendra politely, "I would be honored Miss Lorrimor. The Professor was a kind man."

[lostsole31]

"Greetings favored relation of the spectacular Professor Lorrimor. It is an honor to meet you. It would be an honor to assist in the transportation of the wooden shell containing my old friend."

Razvan then does a slight bow to her and then oddly scans the area, but he only does a quick scane before he is taking more time futzing with the coffin. That said, the vast majority of people here are human, and a paranoid scan for undead reveals nothing. (It takes nearly a minute to do a full 360-degree scan.)

Zauberei had left his backpack at a waystation. Then grabs his spellbook and casts a spell. The spellbook disappears. He approaches the lady with his staff in hand. In a quiet unassuming voice he says, "I will be honored to carry the professor to his eternal rest. You have my condolences. He was a very learned man and had my utmost respect."

Zauberei will need to set his staff down at the waystation if he is going to be a pallbearer, though.

Abrax bows his head to Kendra politely, "I would be honored Miss Lorrimor. The Professor was a kind man."

Kendra, swallows at the boar-headed man but nods, and thanks all three of those who have volunteered thus far.

It requires at least one more pallbearer, but can be up to six.

Hargrimm, Othello, Marius .... do you offer to be pallbearers?

[Moriar]

Abrax bows his head to Kendra politely, "I would be honored Miss Lorrimor. The Professor was a kind man."

Spoiler: waystation

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Would like to leave his backpack at a waystation but carry everything else

[BuckGodot]

Othello will step forward with a kind smile. Bowing his head slightly, he says "My Lady, it would be an honour to conduct your father to his final rest. Although, slightly off-balance as I'm a bit wider than I am tall..." He glances up at the big Ass guy…

[lostsole31]

Othello will be placed in front to provide a forward anchor. He will need to drop his nearly empty backpack at a waystation.

Other folks are expectantly looking at Hargrimm, for if Hargrimm takes the other forward side, it will help balance the front out.

What do Hargrimm and Marius do?

[Ason]

After depositing his backpack and polearm at the waystation, Marius joins the funeral gathering. When Kendra asks for pallbearers, the young man offers with a nod of affirmation, "I owe everything to your father. The least I can do is aid in his farewell."

With her consent, Marius will position himself along one of the coffin's sides to support it from the middle.

[lostsole31]

"Actually, you long stronger than this priest of Nethys, Marius," says Kendra. "Can I get you to anchor in the back, please?"

Hargrimm, will you be a pallbearer, or do you politely decline?

[SwordChucks]

"Of course dear. I'd be honored to help." Hargrimm says as solemnly as he can.

Spoiler: Waystation

Show

Hargrimm leaves everything but his cleric's vestments and holy book, holy symbol, and spell component pouch behind.

[lostsole31]

Father Grimburrow and a pair of gravediggers are already waiting at the site of the professor's burial -- as part of local tradition, they do not accompany the pallbearers from the gate to the grave. Besides the PCs and Kendra, only a small handful of villagers are attending the funeral procession.

Now that the pallbearers have been chosen, Kendra, as the deceased's closest living relative, has the job of leading the somber procession along the Dreamwake -- a gravel pathway that winds through the cemetery. Characters serving as pallbearers (all the PCs) are considered to have both hands full as they carry the heavy coffin up the road.

As the procession reaches the halfway point along the Dreamwake, rounding a corner onto a path called the Eversleep, they’ll see that the way ahead is blocked by a group of a dozen surly looking locals. The tallest of these toughs is an elderly but wiry man. “That’s far enough," he calls out. "We been talking, and we don’t want Lorrimor buried in the Restlands. You can take him upriver and bury him there if you want, but he ain’t goin’ in the ground here!”

Kendra is swift to respond, her sadness swiftly transforming into anger. “What are you talking about?” she cries out. “I arranged it with Father Grimburrow. He’s waiting for us! The grave’s already been...”

“You don’t get it, woman. We won’t have a necromancer buried in the same place as our kin. I suggest you move out while you still can. Folks are pretty upset about this right now.”

“Necromancy!? Are you really that ignorant?”

Remember that right now you are all pallbearers.

Initiative (not because combat, but tense situation) ...

R1T28: Razvan, do you do anything, or see how this plays out?

[Moriar]

Razvan will fix the speaker with a stare. "As an agent of the Lady of the Graves I recommend that you let us pass. I will ensure that Father Grimburrow follows all the rites required. All deserve a chance to be judged the Lady. Don't you agree?"

Spoiler: Boo

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Will attempt an intimidate if he doesn't agree. (1d20+6)[22]

If he does back down, will say "Thank you for your cooperation. I will endeavor to let the Lady Pharasma know of your cooperation. "

[lostsole31]

Kendra sees what just happened with that exchange and instead of supporting Razvan, she says almost in apology of Razvan, "Please. He's an outsider, even if he's right. He doesn't understand our ways here. Please don't let this get out of hand. If you want, come with us to talk to the Father."

Of the tiny crowd of people in the funeral procession, one is not like the others. The handful of persons include a few well-dressed people, someone that looks like publican, a teenager that defers to that man as a parent, and the one following quietly is what appears to be a homeless man. He has short hair and a lot of scruff but not a beard. He dresses in simple traveler's clothing but for appears to have once been a white coat that has been torn and seen a lot of dirt. The coat doesn't appear to be the kind of coat that was ever meant to brave the elements, but something a professional might wear for some reason.

Spoiler: Marius

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This is a doctor's or lab assistant's coat that has seen far better days.

He moves up by Kendra, holding a hand out to Razvan as if to try to calm the dhampir. When the homeless man speaks, he possesses a smooth baritenor speaking voice, and it seem to carry a subtle power with it. "Please let us pass. Please let us bury this man. Father Grimburrow knows what is to be done. He speaks for the Gray Lady in Ravengro ... not me, not this stranger who calls on her, and not you. Do not let rumor become wrath."

That seems to be all that was needed as the rain patters around you. The unruly crowd calm own enough that they sullenly disperse, shooting venomous glances at Kendra and the PCs (especially Razvan), but leave the party alone nonetheless. The homeless man returns to the back of the funeral procession behind the pallbearers and their heavy(-hearted) cargo.

Kendra turns to mouth a "thank you" to the homeless man, but does say to Razvan as the group progresses again, "Thank you for trying, but folks here are proud to be of the Palatinate, and do not take well to outsiders trying to call upon an authority they haven't earned in view of their peers.

"In fact, this is for all of you ... I don't know if you'll leave on the morrow or in a few days, but take care with how you handle yourselves here. Folks are usually pretty decent here, and I'm surprised by what just happened, but if any of you have any positional authority from land, church, or group, you will do well to remember that nobody here gives a whit."

The well-dressed people, whom you learn are town councilors, are shocked at the interruption and indicate that they recognize the thugs as "local farmhands, all of low character." Still, no crime actually occurred, so a particularly heavyset man - Councilor Hearthmount - sighs, and says it's not worth notifying the sheiriff.

In any event, the unruly crowd was large enough that Father Grimburrow heard it and arrives on the Eversleep instead of waiting for you at the gravesite. He is shocked by the audacity of the interruption. But since that is now past, the procession continues up to the plot Kendra purchased for her father. No further complications prevent the lowering of his coffin into the open grave by the gravediggers. Father Grimburrow gives a short sermon, then invites Kendra to say a few words about her father. Kendra fights back tears and briefly recounts a few of her father’s more courageous or selfless moments, thanking everyone once again for coming. She then invites anyone else to share a few stories or remembrances.

Does anyone have any "remembrances" they wish to share, or some other way to honor Professor Lorrimor?

[BuckGodot]

Othello will smile and keep his head bowed in thought, keeping his memories to himself.

[SwordChucks]

Hargrimm addresses the crowd:
"In the short time I spent with the professor, he showed himself to be witty, insightful, and curious. To make this doubly impressive, he held up his end of a conversation just moments after being near-fatally stabbed. Golarion may be poorer for lack of him, but the Boneyard just gained a great conversationalist."

[Moriar]

When it is his turn, Razvan steps up. "The Professor rescued me from a dark point in my life. He gave me purpose and I will miss our conversations. May the Lady Judge him fairly and kindly."

[Ason]

Uncomfortable at the prospect of being first to speak, Marius listens to the other eulogies first and follows their example. "Professor Lorrimor's skill saved me from disease, and his kindness enabled me to study medicine in his footsteps. Compassion and generosity like his are rare things in this world."

[Kvard51]

Abrax listens to the others, but merely shakes his head and pulls his hat brim down a little further. He suspects his looks will only lead to more possibility of trouble with the yokels.

[lostsole31]

The Nethysian remains quiet.

Once it seems all folk have given their eugooglies eulogies that might give them, and it seems Kendra is too emotional to speak for her father, Father Grimburrow gives the final benedictions and nods to the raggedey man. The man in the formerly-white coat that is covered with dirt and old blood begins singing a classic Pharasmin funeral closing hymn.

So powerful and emotive a voice, his talent and even obvious training could see someone like that getting noble patronage or on the stage at the Karcau Opera House. And yet here he is, dressed in rags in the freezing rain in a nowhere town. Maybe one or two of you have heard a voice to match it? But none of you have heard the ability to make the words of the song come alive quite like that.

There is a silence when the hymn is finished, with the man standing there with tears staring blankly. Father Grimburrow carefully leads the ragged man back to the side, and now it seems apparent why this man in his 20s isn't earning fame and celebrity status in the city. He seems to not be wholly aware of things, and while he doesn't seem stupid, he does seem to have some possible mental issues.

Father Grimburrow gives the closing prayers of the service, and just the random sound of the freezing rain hitting stone or dirt is heard.

After the funeral is over and Kendra has said goodbye to her other guests, she invites the PCs back to her home (so recently her father's) for a drink and to hear the last will and testament. She also invites Father Grimburrow and the funeral singer as a courtesy. Father Grimburrow politely declines, but it will be a chance for the funeral singer to possibly get a hot meal, which Kendra is willing to provide.

And so, the group leaves the cemetery known as the Restlands (area P, off map to north of Ravengro map) to head into town proper after returning to the waystations to pick up personal effects.

---

Heading south to town, the road forks gently ... the western road to the right, and the eastern road to the left, but both heading south. Kendra leads the group to the left, and very quickly the group begins to pass a handful houses before getting to a covered bridge. The bridge is wide, some 25' or so, designed for wagon traffic. The waterway it crosses is up to 200' wide and moves swiftly.

As soon as the group gets to the eastern side of the shore, there is a pole (B) that has dozens of messages tacked on it. Kendra says that the "posting poles" (there are five in town) are the best source of news. The teenager you may have noticed - Pevrin Elkarid, son of Zokar Elkarid - is the current Post Boy, who is in charge of transcribing and posting messages. It is at the Posting Poles that the locals leave news of nuptials, job postings for farmhands, or notices of missing pets. The most popular regular item at the Posting Poles, however, is the “Wealday Parchment”—a weekly posting written by elderly councilman Gharen Muricar that summarizes Ravengro’s current politics. Occasionally, it even carries news of events beyond Ravengro’s borders. The “Wealday Parchment” is the closest thing Ravengro has to a weekly paper.

As the party continues south, Kendra will point out the following places...
L, The Unfurling Scroll
I, Ravengro Jail
F, Ravengro General Store
A, The Town Square
H, Jominda's Apothecary
K, The Outward Inn
D, Ravengro Town Hall
G, Ravengro Forge
J, The Silk Purse

.... before heading south on the road past the Town Square, and moving past several homes before getting to the Professor's home of late.

Spoiler: OOC, Information Regarding Places in Town

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Please see #ravengro channel in Discord for a description of these places, as Kendra will volunteer information, and others of the more curious of you likely will ask.

The Lorrimor residence is a modest home (area N on the Ravengro map) with crowded bookshelves in every room. The reading of the professor’s will requires the presence of Councilman Vashian Hearthmount (the closest thing Ravengro has to a solicitor), and he has some other matters to attend to after the funeral, so he doesn’t arrive for about an hour. As the PCs do not already know each other, this is a great opportunity for the you all to introduce each other and to describe yourselves and your connections to the Lorrimors.

[Moriar]

When the group first gets back to the home, Razvan will quietly ask Kendra for the washroom and excuse himself. When he gets back he is somewhat cleaner and seemed to have spot cleaned his clothes; plus he pale complexion has cleaned up.

With a slight bow to the assembled personage, Razvan speaks: "Greetings and salutations, my name is Razvan Milosoveanu. I have to admit that my childhood was a bit secluded from the outside world but I have never met a dwarf nor one of your species." He nods towards the boar headed person. "I would like to hear more about yourselves in particular as I new to those of your ilk, no offense intended."

"As for myself, I was raised with this piece." He pats the pistol at his hip. "Then thanks to the Professor I was rescued from my situation and given my purpose of ensuring Pharasmas will in this land."

"I will answer any questions the best that I am able."

[lostsole31]

A curious servant of 4' in height rolls a tea service around. There is hot tea and some biscuits ("cookies" for folks like me living in the colonies) or crumpets to eat, or a simple rye toast with pats of butter. The servant speaks, despite not seeming to have a mouth to do so properly, and in a fashion that seems rather formal, "Please fortify yourselves with warm fluid and starches now. A proper drink will be served once the councilor has arrived for the reading of the will."

He goes about bringing the service around to all persons, but starts with the disheveled man first, who tries to not be greedy about eating.

[Tippnick]

A short Vudrani human of slight stature in black and whites clothes that some might think would make him part of a clerical order.
Zauberei speaks softly but clearly and says, "Nice to meet you all and you Mistriss Kendra. I was a student the School of Magic in Absalom, the Arcanamirium, when I met the professor. He taught much about the wonders of the Arcane. I was unaware of a will and doubt that it would include me. But I am curious.enough to hear the what the Professor thought to put in his will."