Carrion Crown: The Haunting of Harrowstone [IC]

[BuckGodot]

On to the next day!

[Ason]

Marius blushes in embarrassed realization that he got carried away along with several others in seeing a mystery behind every corner. Glimpsing the books' titles during the grand reveal, the young man remarks, "Most curious. I do wonder what the Professor thought these ghastly tomes had in common for research purposes: they seem equally grim yet unrelated, to my knowledge. But better safe than sorry with such things: good to lock them away until they can be returned to Lepidstadt's archives."

Assuming the dinner is uneventful, Marius wakes up rested and far better-fed compared to his usual refectory meals at the university. He shaves and cleans himself up, wondering what to do with himself in a strange town at the employ of a dead man.

[Tippnick]

After dinner Zauberei retires for the night.

Spoiler: Spells

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I am going to unmemorize vanish and leave a spell slot open.

[SwordChucks]

Hargrimm spends some time after dinner reading his book of war prayers before turning in early for bed. He tries to get his morning meditation taken care of so that he can attend to Kendra as per the will.

[Moriar]

After dinner Razvan will retire to his room.

[lostsole31]

Moonday, 21 Calistril 4711 AR
(Temperature High 60F/ Low 40F. Trace precipitation (< 1/8" rain). No wind. Humidity dry.)

Everyone gets up whenever they get up, and prepare their various things for the day (usually a max of 1 hour per person), and have a breakfast.

Does anybody have anything they want to do today, or just read/ study/ help at the House?

[BuckGodot]

Feeling restless already, Othello will do his best to help out around the house after his morning rituals. At breakfast, he will tell humorous anecdotes and stories for the other's enjoyment.

[SwordChucks]

Hargrimm will stonefacedly listen to Othello's anecdotes, giving the occasional "That was funny." when it's warranted.

He also takes a lap around the property, trying to see where he can be of use. Should he be in a postion to privately ask one of the domestics, he will try to bring up the whereabouts of Kendra's mother, as nonchalantly as that topic can be broached.

[Kvard51]

Abrax will spend his day in the library, searching for information on the locked book.

[Tippnick]

Zauberei will spend the next day hunting out history tomes in the library particulary about Ustalav and the city Ravengro and the surrounding territories.

[Moriar]

Razvan will check if there is anything Kendra could use for the house. Then make a shopping run to grab supplies for her as well as ammunition production supplies. He will also check in with the others assembled and see if they need anything, but will humbly admit that he can't afford to buy the supplies for them.

Then if that all works out will return with supplies and began making more pistol shots.

Spoiler: Shopping trip

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While in town will not engage townsfolk in conversation unless he must. But will listen for any rumors or information while out

[BuckGodot]

Othello will offer to accompany Razvan on his shopping trip, effectively counteracting his disengagement with the locals by being friendly and talkative.

Spoiler: Guess what I heard?

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But will then, in effect, enhance Razvans information gathering by drawing people into conversation about rumors etc.

[Ason]

Once he's cleaned himself up, Marius offers to assist Kendra around the house, and when time permits he also inspects Professor Lorrimor's study for a space to set up a small, makeshift laboratory for any medical and alchemical research that may be needed down the road. While in the study, he discretely looks over the Professor's shelves and work space to get a better sense of the man and his ongoing work, but Marius respectfully leaves the desk drawers and filing cabinets unmolested out of care for the Professor and Kendra's privacy.

With the initial preparations underway, if no other need rises to attention, Marius selects a tome from the Professor's shelves and settles in to read for the rest of the day, ideally the most unusual-seeming one he can find. Should any of the homebound guests complain of boredom, Marius politely pulls out his deck of cards and offers to start a friendly game of euchre.

[lostsole31]

Welcome to ...

CORR: Assume a correction previously regarding the Professor's Journal, which being personal and not to give to Judge Daramid ... Kendra will take (last night) to review (today), as her right as his heir.

Hargrimm ... takes a lap around the property, trying to see where he can be of use. Should he be in a position to privately ask one of the domestics, he will try to bring up the whereabouts of Kendra's mother, as nonchalantly as that topic can be broached.

Honestly, that is going to be more of what skills he offers, otherwise, the domestics pay him no mind .... and pay him even less mind when it comes to talking about Kendra's mother.

Lacking any direction, and having been diplomatically steered from "helping" ... Hargrimm will spend the majority of the day in his room in akashic meditation.

Abrax will spend his day in the library, searching for information on the locked book.

Abrax, the library ... which doubles as a study ... is a nice general private collection. You begin "research" to find out what you can. While by the end of the day you do determine that of course yes, those are Osirion symbols ... as was mentioned before, they are an Osirionologist's fanciful take on symbols, rather than being legitimate Osirion information in any way .... the motifs are there, but not the actuality. Of course, you never studied Ancient Osiriani and don't know from hieroglphs. By the end of the day, you have determined that if there is research to be done, this library won't provide you with the answers.

However, as you rummage through the books becoming more dissipated by your lack of desired materials, you do find other materials of interest. A whole section on psionics, psychic phenomena, various traditions on each (which you, even as a psychic, thought was an interchangeable term). Of particular note is some material for you to study regarding various traditions, mantras, disciplines, and stories in the realm of such abilities used not just for supernal, mental power, but that which taps into "psychometabolism" ... or powers and meditations that help such a practitioner control bodily processes. Of particular note are treatises regarding tapping into anger as well as various forms of "supersensory" awareness.

Spoiler: Supersensory

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Defined as far exceeding normal human abilities of sensing stimuli in the world, but still using the base physical senses rather than purely mystical or magical awareness.

Zauberei will spend the next day hunting out history tomes in the library - particularly about Ustalav and the town of Ravengro and the surrounding territories.

He will learn (or refresh) a lot regarding the laws and customs of Ustalav, the basic laws of Ravengro, and even learn a bit about general regional history.

Razvan will check if there is anything Kendra could use for the house. Then make a shopping run to grab supplies for her as well as ammunition production supplies. He will also check in with the others assembled and see if they need anything, but will humbly admit that he can't afford to buy the supplies for them.

Though possessing a warm humor, Othello's jokes get old fast and he is distracting to the domestics ... save Mr. Evans, who doesn't appear to laugh, or even have that capability. Kendra, exasperated, diplomatically suggests to Othello that he accompany the .... off-putting ... dhampir. That he might need an escort. Meanwhile, separately, Mr. Evans (having coordinated with Kendra) will give a signed shopping list (no money) to Razvan and imply that it would be much appreciated by Kendra if Razvan takes "a little extra time" on the shopping excursion for some peace in the house.

Spoiler: Razvan

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Of course, I need to know how much of what you are looking to purchase.

Othello will offer to accompany Razvan on his shopping trip, effectively counteracting his disengagement with the locals by being friendly and talkative.

Which they both do (more to come when I get Razvan's personal shopping list) ...

Once he's cleaned himself up, Marius offers to assist Kendra around the house, and when time permits he also inspects Professor Lorrimor's study for a space to set up a small, makeshift laboratory for any medical and alchemical research that may be needed down the road. While in the study, he discretely looks over the Professor's shelves and work space to get a better sense of the man and his ongoing work, but Marius respectfully leaves the desk drawers and filing cabinets unmolested out of care for the Professor and Kendra's privacy.

With the initial preparations underway, if no other need rises to attention, Marius selects a tome from the Professor's shelves and settles in to read for the rest of the day, ideally the most unusual-seeming one he can find. Should any of the homebound guests complain of boredom, Marius politely pulls out his deck of cards and offers to start a friendly game of euchre.

The domestics are like, "no thank you very much, and I need to get where you are standing, please .... no, there, there, no, THERE" with Marius. The study is the library, and he already sees a few others of the visitors in there. When he starts to clear things to make a little lab in the study-library, Kendra gets up and goes out, and a minute later Mr. Evans says, "No, not there. This is not a place for caustic liquids to spatter and spate. Please come with me, and I have a place for you."

Mr. Evans leads Marius to the tool shed, which does have a solid worktable, and to be fair, is more amenable to lab-type work (even if it is with a portable crafting kit that was laid out) than the library.

Meanwhile, Kendra, having found success in getting rid of one pest for now, nods and Mr. Evans in gratitude for getting rid of a potential other one, and goes back to reading her father's journal. She is horrified to see him walk back in 20 minutes later, but then breathes easier once he finds a manual and begins reading it.

The manual, a heady fight tome, is one penned by the eponymous The Fatalistic Fancies of Fitur the Fighter (or, Fitur Cergazon's Treatise on the Applications of Negatively-Focused Thoughts as a Positively-Focused Fighting Trance). It turns out that Fitur Cergazon was a famous knife-fighter specializing in Cursed Razor. Marius finds himself filling well his well of information on martial arts with this manual, particularly his own fighting styles concepts of the accursed will and ill tidings.

---

Othello and Razvan go to the Ravengro General Store (see area F in the #ravengro channel). Kendra had warned both that the town can be mistrusting. From a general standpoint, it seems that the "group of strangers" (regardless of who did what) being able to talk down a group of ruffians intent on disrupting a funeral went a long way to get a short amount of trust .. as in, no longer entirely trustworthy/ neutral. Razvan quickly finds that the townsfolk don't much care for him at all, taking a little better to Othello, so it worked out that Othello joined him.

The various supplies are tallied up from the shopping list. You are neither asked to pay money, nor are you given anything. Instead, later today a donkey-cart will stop by Lorrimor Place to deliver the goods requested.

Razvan, what you need personally can likely be found at a combination of the Ravengro General Store and Jominda's Apothecary. What are you looking for? As in ... be specific.

That said, this entire trip is excruciating for Razvan because Othello keeps you out - bouncing around random passersby to speak - for four hours! All of that to learn one weird rumor

Spoiler: Rumors in Ravengro

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"Now and then, if you visit Harrowstone near sundown, you can hear the ghost of the warden’s wife wailing and sobbing from somewhere within the ruins. She haunts the prison now, forever mourning her husband and attempting to frighten anyone who intrudes on the prison."

We'll handle the actual PC shopping offline, but assume it gets done ... or doesn't.

When Othello and Marius get home several hours later, they will discover Wren in the parlor alone. The locked chest has been opened, but Othello feels around and notes that he still has the key on his person. Wren is reading The Umbral Leaves ... the Taldane>Shadowtongue/Shadowtongue>Taldane lexical translation of the unholy work of the Kuthites, worshippers of Zon-Kuthon, the god of sadists and pain. He looks up from this dark work with dangerous knowledge (as purported by Prof. Lorrimor's will), blinks with no sense of guilt, mischievous, or anything, and then just goes back to reading as if he were looking over a trade paper.

[Ason]

Upon spying Wren, Marius glances sideways at Othello, unsure how to respond himself and looking to the seemingly more charismatic dwarf for a social cue on how to handle this clearly unwell man. Feeling awkward saying nothing, however, and hoping to at least bait out a better explanation by treating this unusual scene as normal, Marius politely coughs and asks, "Wren, dear fellow, reading something interesting there, are we?"

[BuckGodot]

"Erm... Yes... I was sure I had locked the chest again... Maybe I forgot? Well... Find anything interesting?" he says, acknowledging Marius's glance and shrugging back.

[lostsole31]

Wren says matter-of-factly, without looking up from the book to either Othello and Razvan on one side, or Marius on the other, "I was curious about religion and theology, since so many of you are religious and I never studied it. But I figured 'comparative religious study' might be better. So, I figured I'd look at the 'Unholy Book of S&M.' It's so didactic because it's more lexical translation of unholy text than actually unbroken unholy text, that this gave me a good start, but one will get more out of learning Shadowtongue from this thing than an insight into Kuthitism."

He continues reading, responding not a whit to any social cues or expectations of the like that normally one would feel compelled to acknowledge.

[Moriar]

"Wren, how did you open the chest?

Kendra, the nice lady that has opened up her home and fed you, had kindly asked that we not open that chest again. Nor read those books. Come with me, I'm sure we can find a nice selection of religious tomes in the Professors library."

Assuming he complies, Razvan will lead him to the library and help him get started on those books.

[lostsole31]

Still not really giving Razvan or the others total focus he answers in the half-aware sense, "I opened it with a key."

With Razvan's follow-on, now Wren looks away from the book as he sets it on his lap. He looks at intensity of focus on the face to find the speaker of those words. His eyes look at Razvan and his voice contorts to a level of anger that seems completely out of sync with the current scenario. He stands tall from the settee, the book he was reading being absently let go and falling by happenstance into the box. But instead of an angry shout, it is more of a very low, barely controlled formation of words that themselves are only just audible to the total four men there. "Liar. She said no such thing. You are trying to gaslight me by changing what she actually said and then going further by attempting to impugn me that I've disrespected our hostess."

His eyes practically burrow into Razvan, and Razvan lets finds himself looking away.

Spoiler: Razvan

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His focus made him terrifying, and you are shaken for the better part of 15 seconds, complete with a throat swallow or clear or some other RP-based sign of discomfort of your choosing.

Wren reaches down and latches the lock on the clasp after shutting the top of the box, with the sound of the lock engaging. As he walks past the two (Razvan and Othello, as Marius came in from an opposite entrance to the parlor), he bitterly mutters, "Don't change the facts of the past to fit your narrative. I don't truck with tyrants."

And unless someone tries to violently stop him, he is going to leave out the front door of the house.

[Moriar]

Razvan swallows and takes a deep breath.

After watching him leave..."That one is very confusing, I did not change any facts nor what Kendra had said to us all. Maybe his perception of the world is different or he actually did not her hear even though he was in the same room?

And Othello, do you still have the key or does he have another?

I am not sure why he was here but maybe Kendra has some insight."

[Tippnick]

Zauberei peers up from his book and notices the strange exchange. He makes sure the peace is not disturbed in the house but then continues to read. He makes a mental note to check on Wren later when he is less disturbed.

[BuckGodot]

Othello checks his pockets for the key...

[Ason]

Marius winces at Razvan's failed attempt at deescalation and redirection, and when Wren storms out, the young doctor's heart sinks. Marius hurries after Wren while keeping his distance and holding his hands up in a gesture of non-aggression.

"Wren," Marius offers once they are outside, "I am sorry for Razvan's behavior and, if I offended, for my own as well. Truth be, when I first saw you, your clothes made me suspect you were a scholar or physician, and I think your calling card said you were an investigator of some kind, so I would genuinely enjoy chatting with you as colleagues. But I think, since we didn't get to know you very well yesterday, the others were curious about you personally. Not to be out of line, but you seem different today. I think the others were acting out of misplaced concern but not true malice: we're all strangers here, after all. I'll leave you be, if you wish, but I at least wanted to extend an olive branch, out of professional courtesy." Marius makes a pained expression as he speaks, doing his best to indicate concern for the disrespect he suspects Wren is feeling.

[lostsole31]

Othello checks his pockets pouch for the key...

It's in his pouch where he left it.

Marius winces at Razvan's failed attempt at deescalation and redirection, and when Wren storms out, the young doctor's heart sinks. Marius hurries after Wren while keeping his distance and holding his hands up in a gesture of non-aggression.

"Wren," Marius offers once they are outside, "I am sorry for Razvan's behavior and, if I offended, for my own as well. Truth be, when I first saw you, your clothes made me suspect you were a scholar or physician, and I think your calling card said you were an investigator of some kind, so I would genuinely enjoy chatting with you as colleagues. But I think, since we didn't get to know you very well yesterday, the others were curious about you personally. Not to be out of line, but you seem different today. I think the others were acting out of misplaced concern but not true malice: we're all strangers here, after all. I'll leave you be, if you wish, but I at least wanted to extend an olive branch, out of professional courtesy." Marius makes a pained expression as he speaks, doing his best to indicate concern for the disrespect he suspects Wren is feeling.

Wren is turned away from Marius during that entire speech. Something seems wrong with his torso, like he may have some breathing problems, before Marius realizes that Wren is sobbing heartily and drops to the ground. "I was dry and slept and ate, and I felt more like me. But she only told us to put the books in the box and lock it. She didn't say they had to stay that way. And the vampire-spawn tried to twist it and assume that she said not to open the chest again but she never said that and I don't see how that disrespects her unless he wants to try and put me off balance to gain power over me now or later an I won't do that. I won't, I won't, I won't."

He sobs on all fours, head bowed into the ground between his arms, still looking away, so that Marius is looking at the dingy coat-covered rump and soles of feet of a man prostrated on the ground on all fours.

[Ason]

Marius had expected ongoing anger or, at best, leery respect. The weeping shocks him, but Wren's prior mention of Briarstone Asylum institutionalization gives a little comforting context. Wren's explanation even gives him a faint smile: Wren was even technically correct in his reasoning, however overblown his reaction was.

Marius walks over to Wren, crouches on one knee nearby, and awkwardly attempts to comfort him, "Wren, hey, it's okay: you're safe. And you said you feel more like yourself today, so that's good, right? The lawyer last night said Razvan was an inquisitor for Pharasma: do mind games seem like things the Gray Lady would let her clergy do? At least she's not an Asmodean, right?"

Assuming Wren does not turn hostile at this initial attempt to deescalate, Marius continues, "Look, I won't say things will get better: we know better than that in Ustalav. But you showed me I misunderstood you earlier, and I bet the others just misunderstood too. You may be right to mistrust, or not. But I'm trying to reserve judgment for now, for the Professor's sake." Marius then picks himself up and offers a hand up to Wren. "Are you going to be okay?"

[BuckGodot]

Razvan swallows and takes a deep breath.

After watching him leave..."That one is very confusing, I did not change any facts nor what Kendra had said to us all. Maybe his perception of the world is different or he actually did not her hear even though he was in the same room?

And Othello, do you still have the key or does he have another?

I am not sure why he was here but maybe Kendra has some insight."

"I do still have the key. I suspect we may have underestimated him based on his appearance. I do not believe the box has a magical lock, but I may be wrong. I'm sure he has as much right to be here as the rest of us. The Professor valued him. I will not make the same mistake twice."

[lostsole31]

Outside, Wren's sobs die down as Marius comforts him ....

"The gods do not micromanage, and nobody is immune from loving power over others too much. Iomedaeans conducted with hunts in Mendev the last crusade, and were still bearing divine powers."

He takes Marius' hand, and nods. "I think so." Wren doesn't shake with fish hands, but he doesn't shake "properly," either. He has a medium firm grasp of Marius' fingers with a sort of "claw hand" (fingers firm opposing thumb in a sort of beak shape) but doesn't really go to the web of the thumb. And there is no up-and-down motion. It is a sort of grasp, a slightly tighter squeeze, and release. It is a strange hand interaction that doesn't show him as weak ..... just, different on how he takes another man's hand.

The two head back indoors.

[Anymore fall out from that odd scene (including telling others or deciding not to do so), or are we done? if so, let's take that to Discord as a new RP conversation.]

Assuming nothing out of the box in a conversation, for plot purposes we are done with this day, unless you as players feel there is more that needs to be done.

[lostsole31]

Toilday, 22 Calistril 4711 AR
High 50F/ Low 30F; Trace precipitation (< 1/8"); Winds from S 10 mph; Humidity: Dry; Wind Chill: -15 to base.

The next morning, everyone wakes up and takes their hour to do their morning routine, wash up, and have breakfast. While the group is at the latter end of their morning meal, someone rings at the door, which is answered by Mr. Evans. A minute later, Mr. Evans asks for Mistress Lorrimor, who then excuses herself to go into another room. A couple minutes later she returns, about the time the group has finished eating and says to the assembled, "It seems somebody vandalized the Harrowstone Memorial last night, and Sheriff Caeller has heard that a detective .... emeritus? ... from the Sleepless Detective Agency is here," she looks at Wren, but also looks at others looking to Wren.

Looking back over the group, she says, "I've been asked to look things over for possible insight because like my father, I'm a diviner, but I admit I'm a poor one. Mr. Elbourne," she says hesitantly, "you may or may not remember being a detective, but you might have the natural skills to shed some light, would you help? Anyone else who wishes to my come with us, and you get a (very) little sight-seeing out of the way when you do."

Spoiler: OOC

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Everyone can respond as they will, but I am going to assume everyone wants to check this out, because otherwise .... why are you here? Also, I don't want to wast 7 days of valuable real-time with six players posturing on how valiantly they answer the call. We don't have the time.

Assuming everyone only gathers the most basic gear (armored up, weapons, but not backpacks and bedrolls and all of that silliness) ... the party gathers outside. They have to bundle up to keep warm as it is a cold winter morning.

There, they will meet and be introduced to Sheriff Benjan Caeller. He's a rough-looking man of an even six feet in height and lanky build, brown eyes, and dark brown hair, wearing a medium-brimmed hat and fine-quality studded leather. He has a light crossbow, but he also has something Razvan can appreciate ... a very well-built, decorative, flintlock pistol in holster. "Which one of you is Detective Elbourne?"

Wren moves forward and hands him his "identification vellum." The sheriff reads it, looks at Wren's very bedraggled appearance, and then curses. He hands the vellum back to Wren and says to Kendra, "Okay, Ms. Lorrimor, let's move this group out."

As you walk south along the main road, he asks that nobody muss up what is more of a scene of curiosity than a necessary crime. "Stupid kids, probably, but people are getting spooked of late for some reason."

About a hundred feet south, after crossing a bridge over a creek that empties into the main river, you come to a fork in the road with a posting pole (B). There is a ls also a very fine home at the fork. Kendra explains that's the house (M2) of Councilwoman Mirta Straelock, who was born and raised in Ravengro. She was the original owner of the town’s tavern, but sold it many years ago just before she took up public office. Popular and earthy, she is the most public face on the council.

The group continues south and gets down to the farthest extent of "central Ravengro." The road continues south and up a hill, and Kendra mentions that is the site of the famous burnt out prison of Harrowstone (R, off-map), and incidentally the place where her father was studying and died. The party gets a chill as they see the distant site on the hill.

The party then cuts west across cold ground towards the river, and then slightly northeast along the river before getting to Harrowstone Memorial (O). Other than the looming ruins of Harrowstone on a nearby hill, Ravengro’s most distinctive landmark is a 25-foot-tall, moss-covered stone statue that overlooks the river. The statue depicts a proud, muscular human man dressed in leathers and wielding a truncheon—a depiction of Warden Hawkran. A total of 25 names—the guards who died in the fire of 4661, as well as the warden’s wife, Vesorianna—are chiseled into the statue’s stone base. The memorial is a popular meeting spot for late-night trysts among Ravengro’s young lovers, for it has just the right mix of tragic romance and spooky ambience without actually being on Harrowstone’s supposedly haunted grounds.

Splashed on the memorial, however, is a single letter: "V".

The simple conclusion to the Sheriff is that if some person made this mark, they came to this site, meaning they had to leave this site as well. Razvan finds that while he thought perhaps to show up a bumpkin sheriff, the sheriff's rural upbringing makes them even in both woodcraft and tracking (as a discussion between the two will discover). Still, the sheriff will acquiesce to the Pharasmin inquisitor and assists him instead. But after reading the cold, hard Calistril-winter ground, neither of the two trackers are able to find any signs coming to/from the memorial (nor is anyone else).

Kendra apologizes that her very meager divinations are completely useless here in a case of simple vandalism.

Any comments or possible courses of action from the PCs?

Spoiler: OOC

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Please do not say, "Okay, I try to find tracks myself!" The whole aspect of looking for tracks of signs going to/ from the site are as a result of the two best trackers - Razvan and Sheriff Caeller - trying to solve the issue. This means that the party has tried to solve the issue by way of looking for tracks. I do not play the "parade of dice" where you try to play the odds by just getting someone else a chance to roll for probabilities sake. It is assumed that if anyone else is good at Survival or tracking, they have given their 2 cents worth in the previous.

I am looking for OTHER ways to possibly solve the issue, and don't worry. It isn't an all-stop if the party can't do it. It's just a freaky occurrence of vandalism but where what looks like blood was used.

[BuckGodot]

Othello shakes his head in disappointment.

"I'm sorry, M'Lady but I'm of no help here."

[Kvard51]

While the Sheriff and Razvan search for tracks, Abrax squats in front of the memorial. He studies the mark for an extended time, not saying anything. Finally, his focus becomes so intense it almost seems unnerving. After 10 minutes he abruptly stands, wobble-legged, and walks over to where the Sheriff and his fellow Pharasmin are still searching the area.

Spoiler: Actions

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Abrax first studies the letter visually, looking for identifying features or indications as to which hand the writer used to make the mark. He then settles into a trance to use the Occult Skill Unlock, Read Aura, to discern if magic was involved.

Abrax shakes his large, boar-shaped head in disgust. "The only thing I can be sure of is that magic was not used in the vandalism, which lends weight to the "local youngsters" theory. I had hoped to be able to learn something about the person who drew the "V", but nothing stood out. I wonder if any of our alchemical adepts might have reagents that would tell us if the ink is, indeed, blood as we are meant to surmise."