Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]

[lostsole31]

Lillian and Ms. Wrentz do want to check this room where you fought the ghost. Given St. Dorn's and Winter's reticence, it will be a quick search that takes two minutes.

Used as an interrogation and torture chamber years ago, this room was converted into a storage area after those cruel practices fell out of favor with Thrushmoor’s leadership. However, the chamber has been clearly undisturbed for years. A heavy coat of dust lies on sealed crates full of old clothing, out-of-fashion furniture, outdated militia uniforms, disassembled weapon racks, broken furniture that someone had planned to repair at some point, tapestries in need of patching, extra bedclothes and chamber pots, and older files that have been moved from the archives to make room for more relevant records.

Careful inspection of the southwestern part of the wall in this room reveals unpleasant secrets. It reveals this portion of the wall used to be a corridor that was sealed up with stone blocks and plastered over long ago. The dampness in the room and the hasty stonework have caused the plaster to crack. Chipping at the plaster reveals gaps in the stones that were put up without mortar.

There is plenty here to help transport Kris.

Do you wish to knock down the weak stones and see what's beyond, or do you wish to jet out now?

[Blackhawk101]

Sensing that this filled in wall has something to do with the damned ghost, St. Dorn bashes in the masonry with his hammer.

[lostsole31]

St. Dorn starts hammering, while Lillian helps peeling at the loose plaster.

It takes some time, but the barrier finally comes down. It reveals a section 5' square that has a lot of rubble in it. A check reveals another poorly constructed wall to the west.

Do you bring down the next wall?

[Blackhawk101]

Dorn lets out some of his frustration on the next barrier.

[lostsole31]

Sealed from the outside world for many years, this cell smells like a tomb—which it is. This cell was once used to detain prisoners the authorities wanted to keep separate from others, or those subjected to torture in the adjoining room. Following the corse within's murder, the corridor to this cell was stuffed with bales of hay and then walled in with stone blocks.

Once St. Dorn has broken down the wall and the bales of hay removed, the PCs find a locked cell door. However, they can peer into the room through the grate in the door. Huddled in the middle of the floor, next to a bench, lies a body. The dessicated corpse is dressed only in a ragged loincloth, and has undergone a process of natural mummification. The most recognizable features of the corpse are several large tattoos on the torso and thighs, mostly depicting abstract, swirling monstrosities with too many eyes and too many mouths.

Ms. Wrentz picks open the door, and a search is done within, including a quick autopsy, a magic-emanating stone of red and blue is found.

[Blackhawk101]

St. Dorn searches his memory for the proper method of putting the corpse of the spirit to rest.

[lostsole31]

St. Dorn has an idea, but bounces it off the others, and with St. Dorn and Kris' input, Ms. Wrentz works out that the partially-mummified body resembles that of the ghost. It looks like simple extraction of the body from the cell and then a proper burial would likely be all it takes to make sure that the ghost doesn't rejuvenate.

[Blackhawk101]

St. Dorn will gather enough tapestries to wrap both bodies and then will carry Kris out of the fort and back to the detective agency.

[lostsole31]

Ms. Wrentz will modify St. Dorn's intentions, as everyone is helping move bodies (and it is very difficult), and that is to take the bodies to the New Chapel of Pharasma.

Any dissension on this change?

[Blackhawk101]

St. Dorn agrees with taking the bodies to the chapel.

[DrK]

Winter follows the others and agrees to stand a vigil over the fallen as thy are laid out. She offers a prayer to the fallen Kris and then casts a spell of warding to stop her body suffering any ill effects, a sad look to the others, "It will keep her body fresh until this can be resolved."

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Cast gentle repose on Kris

[lostsole31]

Winter, interacting with temple staff, the bodies can be properly buried tomorrow at mid-morning. As the ranking priestess with Midwife Trillis Mavaine still missing, Winter will need to be the officiating priestess.

[DrK]

Happy to let the temple staff tend and wash the bodies. Winter will rest for the evening, reading through the holy texts of Pharasma an wil rest for the night ahead of a burial the following day. In the evening as they rest she wil seek out the rest of the party, "What now I must wonder?"

[Blackhawk101]

St. Dorn will run his face with his hands, trying to wipe away his exhaustion.
“On the morrow, we will lay another companion to rest. The fight against this terrible foe extracts a heavy toll.

He will look to the others to gauge their resolve.
“I feel the need to see this through until we wipe away this yellow stain or die trying! What say you?”

[lostsole31]

"All but a small section of Fort Hailcourse is liberated. But there was a section to the west in the basement yet to check," says Ms. Wrentz.

[Blackhawk101]

“Aye. You are right Ms. Wrentz,” St Dorn says tiredly.
”Do you feel we are a large enough group to complete the task?”

[lostsole31]

"We are the only group here to complete the task," says Ms. Wrentz. "After Fort Hailcourse is completely liberated, my civil obligations technically end. After that, it's about whether or not you and Winter care to solve the issues surrounding Briarstone and the Count. Because Thrushmoor is rudderless, Lillian and I will continue to aid you. But Thrushmoor is on the road to nowhere, and Count Lowls' is out there now enacting whatever fell plan that all of his activity in Thrushmoor led him to, and led him away."

[Blackhawk101]

“Aye,” agrees Dorn as he pulls on his beard.
He looks to Lillian and Winter for their input.

[silphael]

"We will have to be cautious, because of our limited numbers, but if we can finish cleaning up the fort, we might get more information about the situation ? Anyway, I'm with you for now." Lillian agrees as well.

[DrK]

Winter looks at Dorn and the others. "After losing our friends. After seeing the chaos brought to the town we must see this through to the end." She sits with the others and pauses in her words. "It is a sad thing, but remember the Boneyard welcomes those who are worthy and our friends will be judged by the Lady of Graves and be rewarded for the valour they had in life. We will miss them but they will be exalted in the world they have departed to."

Looking at the windows, "I agree though, back to the Fort and to solve its mystery once and for all tomorrow"

[Blackhawk101]

St. Dorn nods. “It seems we are in agreement.”

“I do want to make sure the imprisoned townsfolk is reunited with his sister.”

[lostsole31]

Speaking of which, the young man has been escorted by/ has been escorting you since the exit from Fort Hailcourse. Being in psychological shock, he hadn't tried to wander off on his own. The party reunites Sholn with Holissa in a tearful reunion, and she will take care of him. He is likely to carry mental trauma with him for years to come, but is in the loving care of family once again. Holissa gives many tears of gratitude mixed with sorrow, as the man she originally approached - Brother Jaume - sacrificed himself to help her family be brought back together.

Does the party return to the Sleepless Detective Agency to rest for the night?

[Blackhawk101]

St. Dorn will return to the detective agency.

[lostsole31]

As does the rest of the party to take advantage of Ms. Wrentz's renewed and updated hospitality for the night.

That night, there is a faint dinging above the heads of Lillian, St. Dorn, and Winter!