The Whispering Throne

Sorry for the long drought. Suppose to get Sundays and Thursdays off. Only has Thursdays... Gonna get this going as much as possible

Here's some gaia gold, 10 xp, and 15 gp.	100.0%	[ 9 ]
Total Votes:			[ 9 ]

[Jacior]

Marthius couldn't believe TJ's impudence. Were it not a funeral, Marthius would have taken his morningstar to the fool's head. As it was, Marthius was sore tempted to smack J upside his head, but he restraned himself. And then the Boy took Dimitri's place as a pallbearer, the urge to attack rose again, but Marthius valiantly suppressed it.
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((Thisprt in in the first !))
Marthius was a little more than stunned at the sudden turn of events. Why would they not want the Professor burried in the graveyard? "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS ABOMINATION?!" He managed to get his words out just before Kendra spoke. When the man finished his peace, Marthius was aghast.

((This is on the last !))
"Set the coffin down. Now." There was nothing resembling emotion is his voice. He waited till the coffin was safetly upon the ground before continuing. "You," He said gesturing toward the apparent leader of the mob. "Ignorant buffoon. I suggest you leave now and take your goons with you." Marthius' aura started to poke its way out of him, flares of black puncturing the red of it. "If you don't, I'll have to kill you."

[Cowpies77]

(TJ interrupts during the third !!!)

Raising his hand, TJ calls out "Uh, excuse me? I was wondering if maybe we could talk this over with the priest first? I'd really like to not get into a fight during a funeral procession, out of respect for the dead. I mean, even if you don't like the guy, violence right here, right now isn't really in anyone's best interests, right?"

Yar, Diplo check to try and diffuse the situation and get them to at least not go to fisticuffs with us.
26

[ChronoWarrior]

((Also trying Diplomacy, +8. Waiting until the end in order to play it out.))

Isaac feels bad for Kendra, and tries to help her out.

"Well all due respect good sirs, this is one of the worst times to be objecting. If everything has already been taken care of and arranged with Father Grimburrow, I see little reason to still object to this man's burial. If you still have problems, I suggest a strongly written letter of complaint, instead of rudely blocking the way."

((Diplomacy of 21.))

[MT the Clown]

Due to TJ's last second intervention, the thugs are visibly ashamed. Shooting of more than a few dirty looks, the mob disperses when an elderly man in priest robes appear along with two other official looking folks, the last to leave being the leader of the group. Wheezing a bit, the old priest fires off possibly one of the most burning, guilt-inducing glares ever at the backs of the retreating thugs.

"I-I cannot apologize enough for them idjits."

"Local farmhands all of 'em."

"Low characters as well."

"That certainly isn't an excuse for what they did. Kendra, my dear child, I cannot apologize enough for what happened here. But I can promise all of you, I'll have them turned into the sheriff. Come, this time, I'll be beside the procession."
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The funeral procession makes it to the plot with no further interruption. A small group of acquaintances and mourners turn to look at the party and some whispers are exchanged as the coffin is lowered into the ground. The old priest, Father Grimburrow gives a short sermon and invites Kendra to say a few words about her father. Kendra fight back tears and briefly recounts a few of her father's more courageous or selfless moments, thanking everyone once again for coming. Stepping aside, she invites anyone to share a few words.

((If you chose to speak a few words, roll either a performance or diplomacy. As always, an actual post will modify your result, for good or bad.))

[Jacior]

Marthius' aura subsided swiftly, as his master's rightful burial ground was reaffirmed. He decided to keep quiet until they buried him, lest he make more of a fool of himself. Such a display of emotion was uncalled for. Even in times as this.
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Marthius decided that he would say a few words, it was the last time he would have to say goodbye, afterall. He stepped foreward and hugged Kendra, still unsure if she knew who he was. Breaking away, he went to stand and the head of the grave. "I will understand if most of you don't remember who I am or what I was in relation to the Professor. I have been away for some time and I am sure my mask is not something any of you would recognise." He began his speech, calm and collected as he is 90% of the time.

"My name is Marthius. When I was four, Professor Lorrimor decided to take me into his home to provide me with everything my actual family could not, out of te goodness of his heart. Education, proper understanding of my gifts, and warm shoes." His attempt at a joke was ot properly timed, by far. "Because of him, I family that actually cared for me. I had a sister who bothered with me and... a person who cared for me deeply." Marthius wasn't exactly sure how Lorrimor felt about him, and he wasn't going to assume anything. "I wouldn't be half the man I am today without him."

He took his place back in the crowd.

((Perform: +1))

[Cowpies77]

MT the Clown

Stepping aside, she invites anyone to share a few words.

((If you chose to speak a few words, roll either a performance or diplomacy. As always, an actual post will modify your result, for good or bad.))

TJ thinks a bit about what to say during Marthius' speech and decides to keep it short and pointed.
"The Professor is a man that we should all aspire to be. When I worked under him, I could hardly help but admire him for the traits he demonstrated to all of us. Courage, wisdom, nobility, patience, honesty... in losing him, we are truly losing a great man. But I would like to think of what he would have left us with: Things like the knowledge that, while there may be hard times ahead of us, that they are not end times. I was raised with the belief that the truly great and good people in the world like The Professor who have done so much for us here have earned their moment of peace in the heavens. As his friends, family, associates and students, I feel that the only thing we can really do to honor him properly is give him a good sending-off party to wish him well and let him know where ever he is, that he will be missed. And also for all of us to strive to be the kind of man he was, and that he would want to be."
Stepping away to the side, TJ gives a little bow to those in attendance and says "Thank you." Then, turning around to face the grave, TJ gives a deeper bow and says "And thank you, Professor. Rest in peace, sir."

(results: +9, total of 1 cool

[ChronoWarrior]

Isaac decides to pay his respects for Professor Lorrimor in silence. He bows graciously to his grave.

[MT the Clown]

As the funeral draws to its tearful conclusion and Kendra has said her goodbyes to the guests and her father, she invites the party back to her home for a drink and to hear the last will and testaments of the Professor.
=====================

The Lorrimor residence is a modest place with crowded bookshelves in every room. After an hour of silence, a man who introduces himself as Vashian Hearthmount (the closest thing Ravengro has to a solicitor) arrives. Upon seeing the outsiders, it is obvious that he doesn't completely approve of strangers being involved in the local matters, but says nothing of it.

[MT the Clown]

I, Petros Lorrimor, being of sound mind, do hereby commit to this parchment my last will and testament. Let it be known that, with the exception of the specific details below, I leave my homes and personal belongings entire to my daughter Kendra. Use them or sell them as you see fit, my child.

Yet, beyond the bequeathing of my personal effects, this documents must server other needs. I have arranged for the reading of this document to the belated until all principals can be in attendance, for I have more than mere inheritance to apportion. I have two final favors to ask.

To my old friends and my son. I hate to impose upon you all, but there are few others who are capable of appreciating the true significance of what it is I have to ask. As some of you know, I have devoted many of my studies to all manner of evil, that I might know the enemy and inform those better positioned to stand against it. For knowledge of one's enemy is the surest path to victory over its plans..

And so, over the course of my lifetime, I have seen fit to acquire a significant collection of valuable but dangerous tomes remain safe under lock and key at the Lepidstadt University, I fear that a few I have borrowed remain in a trunk in my Ravengro home. While invaluable for my work in life, in death, I would prefer not to burden my daughter with the darker side of my profession, or worse still, the danger of possessing these tomes herself. As such, I am entrusting my chest of tomes to you, posthumously. I ask that you please deliver the collection to my colleagues at the University of Lepidstadt, who will put them to good use for the betterment of the cause.

Yet before you leave for Lepidstadt , there is the matter of another favor- please delay your journey one month and spend that period of time here in Ravengro to ensure that my daughter is safe and sound. She has no one to count on now that I am gone, and if you would aid her in setting things in order for whatever sh desires over the course of this month, you would have my eternal gratitude. From my savings, I have also willed each of you a sum of one hundred platinum coins. For safekeeping, I have left these funds with Embreth Daramid, one of my most trusted friends in Lepidstadt- she has been instructed to issue this payment upon the safe delivery of the borrowed tomes no sooner than one month after the date of the reading of this will.

I Petros Lorrimor, hereby sign this will in Ravengro on this first day of Calistril, in the year-

[MT the Clown]

Once the will is read, Councilman Vashian looks to Kendra, who thanks him and dismisses him. Putting on a brave face, Kendra thanks the party once more for coming and informs them that she'll need at least a few weeks to decide if she wants to sell her family home or remain in Ravengro- in the meanwhile, as stipulated by the will, she asks everyone to stay as well, offering rooms in her spacious home. Excusing herself, she heads off to go and fetch the chest mentioned in the will.
============

The chest itself is relatively small and made of oak and iron. Slightly nervous, she leaves the key on the table and allows the party the honor of opening it.

[Jacior]

Marthius picked up the key and fingered it. "This is certainly not a large chest. I figured the Professor would have been sending more books back." He stuck the key gently into the lock and turned it. He opened the chest and looked inside.

((They can't all be fantastic posts))

[Cowpies77]

TJ looks a little irritated by the reading of the will, but when it's over, the rogue works their way behind Kendra and gives her a gentle hug from behind, saying "Well that puts me into a bit of an awkward position. I wanted to stay here for a while to make sure you were going to be alright."
Hugging a bit tighter, TJ tells her "I know it's a hard time for you, so let me know if there's absolutely anything I can do to make you feel even a little better, okay Kendra?"

As Marthius moves to take the key and open the box, TJ loosens the grip on Kendra so that she can pull away if she wants to, but otherwise stays near her side.

[ChronoWarrior]

"Oh dear, staying here for a month? I do hope this place has some very good facilities. But, if that is the Professor's will, then I shall see to it Kendra stays safe."

[MT the Clown]

The key fits the lock perfectly, and within are several old tomes and one relatively new one. The newest tome sits on the top and bears the phrase "Read me now!" scratched into the leather cover. The other tomes are as follows:

arrow Manual of the Order of the Palatine Eye, a rich purple cover containing a brass scarab set with a single eye in the center.

arrow On Verified Madness, a jet black book.

arrow Serving Your Hunger, covered in unidentified cured flesh.

arrow The Umbral Leaves, a massive hardcover covered in the professors handwriting to serve as a translation.

[Jacior]

Marthius picked up the tome on the top. "I suppose we are to read this one first." He let on that he might read the other books during their stay. Though, perhaps by accident. He opened the cover and scanned the page, flipping as he finished each page.

Marthius finished skimming the book, stopping several times to read thoroughly passages in the book. "Kendra... Has the Professor's library been touched recently? Other than by the professor I mean?" If the professor had any information on this The Way thing, it would be in his private library. "I-I need to use his personal library. And anything you know of he might try to keep hidden. Or that he has kept hidden that you might have found." He closed the book and set it back in the chest, which he promptly locked and pocketed the key.