Spriggy glared at the assassin after he had the gall to ask to be released. "I think we should hand you over to the town's authorities and let them decide what to do with you," Spriggy said to the prisoner. "After all, this is their town. We are not the judge, jury, and executioner here." Despite his words, Spriggy would happily go along with the group consensus when it came down to what should be done with the prisoner.

The bard then answered Idi's question about how to get the spirit to work with them. "I suppose I will go try and have a chat with the ghost. Irene can help with the talking if the spirit is unable to speak to us on its own. But if your prayers reveal anything else that can help, Idi, be sure to let me know. Feel free to use any supplies I have in my wagon. I have lots of books in there. Oh, and even a couple items from our enemy necromancer's hideout! Do you think any of that could help you?"

If nobody had any better ways to communicate with a ghost, Spriggy would wait until everyone was ready, then go try and convince the town's spirit to have a conversation.

Idi nods his thanks to Spriggy. "I appreciate your generosity. Sacrificial offerings are symbolic, it's the act of giving over that matters. Although if they are worthless, the sacrifice doesn't mean much, even symbolically, does it?" Idi turns to the mage, and looks him up and down.

"I don't know what's right for you, yet. I'm going to seek higher guidance. You're welcome to pray with me, if you like. Thovis may appreciate that, if you're sincere."

Idi heads out to check in Spriggy's cart, looking for something suitable to offer Thovis in exchange for his guidance.


If the mage wants to pray, Idi will go back to the cellar to pray with him there after finding something suitable. I'm looking to use my Orison for Guidance move (much clearer message than the Guidance spell!), which needs "something valuable". I'll probably be asking about what to do with the mage in my prayer, although it's "what Thovis wants you to do" so I suppose he can dictate on whatever topic he likes.

OOC: The necromancer's book would work. Less undeads means less trouble for the Ghostwalk.

Idi ritually prays to Thovis, and soon gets a vision as his answer...

The village seems to fade and shift, as though it turns back to an older state, but with dark wisps cling to everything. In the center of the village, kneeling between the stones, a woman cries in despair and anger.

The buildings shift again, as the passage of time returns to the present, the wisps blowing away as their evil faded. But the woman is still there, crying, the darkness still clinging to her, blinding her to the passage of time. A prisoner of her own memories.

As the vision fades, two words echoes in your mind. FREE HER.

The vision unsettles Idi somewhat, but it's Thovis' will and so he thanks his god for it. After properly disposing of the ashes from his sacrifice, he returns to query the mage.*

"The Hunter has bigger priorities than your sins, it seems. Although I can't speak for the people's justice, it might go better if you can help us with our... project. Firstly, anything you know about the Necromancer or his other servants would be welcome, even trivial details.

"Second—do you know anything of spirit magic? If we can help this one move on, it's one less danger for you as well. Or if you have any experience with stepping through portals to other realms. I'm sure it would contribute highly to your atonement."

*Idi will willingly tell anyone around who wants to know about his vision, or feel free to step in here if you have something you want to do. Also anyone who wants to come speak to the mage is of course welcome to do that as well.


I do want to pump the mage for info, we can play it out or just summarize, I'm happy either way. This is what I'm thinking to try and find out: can he help contact/manage the spirit of the woman? Can he help in any way with Spriggy's mirror idea? Does he know anything useful about the Necromancer? And, whatever else others might want to ask!

Questioning the captured mage reveals how little he knows. The necromancer hired him and his allies a couple of times for shady works. A few were assassinations, others were discreet robberies of various books or sales records.

This assassination was biggest assignment he gave them. The advance allowed them to purchase the gear they needed, and Teririgt has always kept his word when payment was concerned, so they weren't worried that he would be the one contacting them with the rest of their reward.

As for his magical expertise, he's an aquamancer, and doesn't know much about necromancy or spirits.

When Russel brings up his idea, Spriggy explains that not only would it be difficult (those are BIG rocks, weighting several tons), the disruption moving them would cause is difficult to predict. It could cause their magical energy to dissipate slowly, quickly, or not at all.

Having faced the town's holdover spirit protector in the tense mill encounter, Buck takes leave of Idi's interrogation and returns to the stones at the center of the village.

Armed with slightly more knowledge and a new goal of releasing the tethered spirit, he takes a deep breath and focuses his will, physically touching one of the ancient stones with a hand this time. Again he attempts a Communion Of Whispers searching for more details and a way forward.

Today: Buckthorn rolled 8 using 2d6+2

Sir Gorrid waived to Russel as he approached and, after taking a quick glance inside to ensure that everyone seemed safe and well enough, did a walk-around of the building ensuring it remained secure and checking on surrounding village and area for anything that might be out of place.

"One thing that strikes me as odd is - why send us at the same time he sends assassins?  I mean Terrigt had to know we'd do our best to foil an assassination plot.  If we were back-up in the event the militia foiled the assassins, why not send us on a side quest to buy the killers more time?  Or send the assassins a couple of weeks later if we were unsuccessful in breaking the curse when we'd either have been gone, or at least our guard would have been down."

He'd met many elves and not a few mages in his time, and while some were down-right odd, he'd never met one of either that he considered 'dumb', let alone someone who was both.  The necromancer had deliberately sabotaged himself.  Perhaps he'd hoped the assassins would have taken out Sir Gorrid and the rest?  If so, he'd badly underestimated.  But the assassins had been here first - if taking out the defenders, why telegraph the threat by shooting the townsfolk ahead of time.

Something definitely wasn't right.  He grabbed a couple of bags of milled flour and carried them back down the hill.  (No point going empty-handed.)

After dropping off his burden at the baker's hut, he headed to the temporary 'prison' and knocked on the door.

"Ask him for details about exactly when and where these folks were hired.  Was it before or after the scumbag sent us?"

Your prisoner confirms they were hired almost a week before you reach the necromancer's tower.

Leo suggests "maybe he thought the assassins would be done before we reached this village? I mean, they must have been hiding here for a while, if they killed the various persons the marshal mentioned."

OOC: Buckthorn, the spirit of the woman is too strong for you to commune with anything but her. You can talk to her directly, however.

Not one to waste words, or the time and attention of an angry ghost, Buck briefly explains the group's path (as he's gathered it) leading to aid in defense of the village. He asks what may be done to free the spirit, soothe its anger or at least appease it in some way.

In return, he respectfully asks for any assistance in the group's ultimate goal of defeating their common evil.

When Buckthorn went to commune with the town's spirit, Spriggy followed in order to give support if needed. He brought Irene as well. He figured that between the three of them, it would be a calculated risk to contact the spirit rather than a reckless risk.

He mulled over the information gained from Idi's vision while he waited, but remained quiet so that Buckthorn could concentrate.

In replay to Sir Gorrid, Russel said, "You can't apply logic to emotional people. He is desperate to end the curse and possibly crazy as well. I would not be surprised to see him show up here himself. To take matters into his own hands."

"I'm trying to watch everywhere at once out here while everyone else is dealing with the assassin and the curse."

"I was thinking that if we had one of those water elementals of our own, we might could have it wash away the foundation of one of the stones, so that it could be toppled."

The knight nodded.  "It is true that it is hard to know the mind of desperate men.  It's hard to know how the snake may strike next.

I'm happy to assist as I can with watching for threats."

Leo tilts his head, before asking Gorrid "Aren't you able to sense where that dried up elf is? It could give us some forewarning if he's coming after us."


At the stones, Irene shakes her head. "She seems completely lost in her anger. Like nothing had changed since she died. Just getting her to listen to us will be difficult, expecting help from her would be near impossible."

"If he leaves his pocket dimension, then yes, I should be able to sense his direction.  But that would require him to do so..."

I'm assuming that hasn't happened, or something would have been mentioned.  Also, I'm currently up the hill at the mill - so I guess Leo has joined Russel and I there?

"A literal and figurative dead end." Buck concludes to Spriggy, shaking his head and returning from the huge stones.

"We may have defended the village but it doesn't appear much has been gained in the search for the necromancer." he added with little emotion. He heads back toward the mill to rejoin Gorrid and the others and share the news with them.

OOC: Yes, Leo is with Gorrid and Russel near the mill, to have a good view of the village. Buckthorn, Spriggy, and Irene are at the stone circle. Idi is with your prisoner, in the cellar.

PM

PM reply

Idi finishes questioning the mage for now, and collects the dishes he brought for him. "I need to release that spirit, the one that seems to want your blood. If you think of any way to help make that happen, please do let me know. It would be good for your health, I think, to have her move on. But some aid and cooperation would also be a gesture of... of good faith I think, for whoever does end up deciding your fate." With that, he departs, but not before leaving the mage with a small prayer should he wish to recite it and contemplate:

Thovis guide me as the bow guides the arrow;
let me fly true, let me bite deeply.

After depositing the dishes, Idi heads to the stone circle to check in with the others about ideas for resolving this spirit issue, and how they might release the poor woman from her endless torment.

A concerned look appeared on Sir Gorrid's face.  "I can't sense the necromancer anymore.  At all.  Something's happened, and I don't understand what...

I'd better run down and tell the others.  Are you ok?"  He waited for Russell and Leo to confirm, then jogged down the hill and relayed the information to the others.

"I can't say for sure when he 'disappeared'.  Before, I knew he existed, just not where he was.  Now, I can't sense his location at all.  Perhaps he's dead, but I don't think we should presume we're that lucky."

The notion that the mage might have been able to conceal himself from even the holy sight granted by his deity was disconcerting.  He uttered a brief prayer.

The threat I had promised to deal with has hidden himself from my sight, but I am sure he cannot hide himself from your own.  Please let me know if he remains a threat to these innocents we protect or to your will.

quote:

15:16, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 9 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 2,5.  Cast Guidance.

I'll take danger.  It's time for something fun to happen :>

Bumping into Sir Gorrid and the others not far from the stones allowed Buck to share his (lack of) findings after listening to the knight's dismay about the Necromancer's apparent disappearance.

As Idi and Buckthorn reach Gorrid, they notice he looks a bit weird. Like his eyes are starring off into the distance, and not really seeing you.

Noticing the distant and forlorn look Buck places a hand upon his colleague's armored shoulder,
"Do not be discouraged, we have saved a village this day and we may yet do good tomorrow."
Reassurance isn't a strong skill Buck possesses but he knows often a little can go a long way.

"How are you, brother Gorrid?" Idi asks, watchful. Not long ago an angry spirit took control of Gorrid's body, or nearly did so. Without prayer or magic Idi can't sense when or if the spirit is around, so all he can do is look closely for some sign that Gorrid is himself—or not.


I don't know if it makes sense to Discern Realities, but I'll give it a go (if it's not needed then DM just let me know and we can ignore it!).
Idi rolled 12 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 3,6.
Ok, so three questions:
• Who’s really in control here?
• What here is not what it appears to be?
• What is about to happen?

"Better than the folks over there!"  He drew his sword and pointed it towards the far side of the village where smoke was starting to rise and from which faint cries of distress could be heard.

He started charging in that direction, and shouted over his shoulder.  "This MAY be a distraction, so at least some should defend the mill"

As he ran, he prayed, reading himself for battle.

quote:

13:31, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 9 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 2,5.  Cast bless on self.
13:31, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 9 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,3.  Cast magic weapon on my sword.

Will forget both spells.