An Inquirer visits Ravengro

The carriage train that arrives at Ravengro, sent by the Council of Canterwall and the church of Pharasma, is  lead by 1st. Inquirer LeVey of the Palatine Council of Canterwall. He will conduct a private meeting with the party in Ravengro's church. After listening to your stories he promotes Neophyte James Andachi to the rank of Journeyman in the church and gives him the church's blessings to travel with this new "band of brothers". LeVey will be staying in Ravengro as temporary priest until a new one is sent from the capitol.

As part of his time spent in Ravengro Inquirer LeVey will interview the group privately, and separately.The last week of the "band"s time in Ravengro, LeVey will have the 2 alchemists, the smith, and the owners of The Silken Purse busy gathering, and making the ingredients for a 5 day ritual held inside the church's basements.

Dr. Henric will have a shiny new tattoo when this ritual is over, as well as a new purpose and reasons to travel to Lepidstadt.. The pentacle and circle of power, together known as a Pentagram, will be the first of 3 separate sigils proscribed by Inquirer LeVey. The second is known as the Elder Sign and the third the Sign of the Watchers. When completed this occult emblem will provide its bearer some protection from possessing spirits.

LeVey's final request of the group is that they travel a small bit out of there way to Clover's Crossing to check in on the village. A man known as Dr. Emrer Evets, who is traveling with LeVey as his "guest" has told tales of the outlying villages fallen into sinkholes and barrens fields where towns once stood. 

M

 

Lepidstadt

Lepidstadt: Small city


Qualities: academic, prosperous, rumor mongering citizens, tourist attraction

Demographics:  Government council

Population 9,780 (9,600 humans, 80 dwarves, 50 elves, 30 gnomes, 20 other)

Notable NPC's:  Alpon Caromarc , The Beast of Lepidstadt, Acciani Viacarri

Marketplace: Base Value 6,000 gp; Purchase Limit 37,500gp

Moldering hinterlands and the remnants of a bloodthirsty religion seem like an unlikely setting for a scholarly revolution, yet on the Lesser Moutray brazenly flourishes just such a renaissance. Under the auspices of the nation’s greatest university, egalitarian philosophies and radical sciences clash with popular superstitions and forgotten secrets, clenching the city of Lepidstadt in a war between a past that refuses to rest quietly and a reckless future.

The community of Lepidstadt rose upon the Lesser Moutray over 700 years ago, little more than an outpost of farmers and woodsmen who trusted in the murk of the Dipplemere to keep roving bands of orcs and Kellids at bay. They of course knew of the ancient “witchstones” that dotted the lands, monuments to strange entities worshiped by ancient Kellid shamans, but all with sense knew to give the pale rocks a wide berth. The Treyes brothers changed that, as their audacious exploration of the Spiral Cromlech revealed treasures of a mysterious past, their value in gold and mystery outstripping the threat of ancient curses. Soon an army of scholars and adventure-seekers made the city their garrison, besieging the ruins of the ancient land. As discoveries and doldrums caused the land’s novelty to ebb and flow, Lepidstadt became the permanent home of numerous academics, whose works and families promoted the growth of the local university and, over time, elevated it to the vaunted center of scholarship it’s known as today.

Within the past 40 years, much of Lepidstadt has been renovated, with centuries-old hovels replaced by freshly imported wood and marble. Yet only the city’s elite preoccupy themselves with idyllic aspirations, and as one wanders away from the central plazas, old stone homes and repurposed mills show through the modern veneer, their residents living as they have for centuries, rolling their eyes at every new convolution of the city’s higher society.

Counties of Ustalav: Vieland

Between the orc-stalked Tusk Mountains and the bogs of the Shudderwood lies a prophecy of ruin. Across the secluded northwestern corner of Ustalav called Vieland, the ancient Kellids raised monuments to strange powers of the deep earth and distant stars. Today, these idols of misshapen gods go unheeded, overlooked as rustic curiosities or repurposed as bedrock for an age of arrogant reason. From the hills rises a bastion of science and new truths, haughtily ignorant of the past’s mute warnings.

The county of Vieland is a rugged country, Vieland’s hills and dales pitch from the western mountains, breaking in stony waves that gradually mire down in dense swamps and woodlands. The dusty knolls scattered below the Tusk Mountains scatter across land that might otherwise make fine farmland, their boulders and precipitous slopes making the land better suited to herding than most other forms of agriculture. Aside from the trolls and marsh giants said to hunt the region, tales abound of territorial plant creatures and ancient swamp lords with the power to command the rotting mounds.

The Talbots

The Talbots live on a small livestock farm under the eaves of the Shudderwood. Their farm consisting mainly of horses and hogs although a few head of dairy cattle are in the mix as well.

The Talbots had 10 children of which Remy is number 7.

Stefan, the firstborn, died at age7. He drowned in a rain swollen stream after falling in by accident.

Kristof, now 33, is married to his bride of 13 years and has a small hog farm of his own. He has 3 children and is now 33 years old.

Viktoria and Emelia are 27 year old twins. Viktoria is married to Denis, a horsetrader the Talbots frequently trade with. She is expecting her second child. Emilia lives at home and is betrothed to Arpad, the main help on the Talbot farm.

Tibor, known as "Strongbow", is a ranger of the Shudderwood. Famous for his hard hitting long bow. He is 23.

Remus disappeared in the Shudderwood over 2 years ago. No trace has ever been found.

Remy, 19, another ranger of Shudderwood.

Anca, 17, called Star of Desna. Believed to be the most beautiful woman in Ustalav.

Ileana, 14, already showing a gift for weaving.

Vili, 9, this one was a happy accident and is beloved by everyone.

Another nightmare filled night. I woke this morning feeling worse than when i fell into slumber. I cannot wait 'til we are quit of this town.

        Remy Talbot, ranger

Minor Magic

The various learned arcanists in the group have no trouble figuring out the stone of alarm.

STONE OF ALARM
Aura faint abjuration; CL 3rd
Slot none; Price 2,700 gp; Weight 2 lbs.
DESCRIPTION
This stone cube, when given the command word, affixes itself to any object. If that object is touched thereafter by anyone who does not first speak that same command word, the stone emits a piercing screech for 1 hour that can be heard up to a quarter-mile away (assuming no intervening barriers).

CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, alarm; Cost 1,350 gp

M.

Dossier: Remy Talbot

Cover sheet:

Summary Page:

Desmond Kote is wise to have me start with the youth known as Remy Talbot. Like many Ustalavian’s the Talbots took the last name of the most successful side of their family. The name Talbot brings to mind skilled woodsmen and rangers, as would another name they descend from, however this name would bring a gasp even to an inquisitor’s lips. Remy Talbot is the direct descendant of Mathus Mordrinacht! 

The supporting documents will show Remy to be a seventh generation descendant of Mathus and if legends are true, destined to become a Dark Hunter. I have tasked Quinley Basdel with searching The Quarterfaux Archives for more precise information regarding these Dark Hunters.

Unfortunately records are not well kept in the Shudderwood but young Remy believes he killed his father, also accursed with his silvered sword, Desna’s Remorse. If he is truly a hunter born, as I believe he is, then he merely doomed his father to the curse to which their line is born, activating or awakening his weapon in their blood. There are only 4 known “hunter” weapons, one is lost or hidden, one I believe in the possession of Remy Talbot with the remaining two safely locked away in our Master’s collection. Inquistor Kote divinations will come true should the 7th son fulfill his birthright, his path will intersect with all of us.

Thirty pages follow detailing and supporting summary.