Silver Moon
Adventurer
Chapter 51, “Back to the Cemetery”, July 11th, 6:00 P.M.
The stealth team has spent the day attempting to discover the final clue to the primary target. They have been less than successful, having picked up a number of rumors, but nothing that materialized to anything definitive. One rumor they hear is that a gargoyle-type creature was spotted at dawn flying near the Caretaker’s House at the Jawltorn Cemetery. The own Deanna conveys this to Serita, who sends back the reply “Check it out.”
The two newcomers, Darrius and Charen, are both still off following up on a lead about the female ILA leader, and the others decide not to wait, as they would prefer to not be in a cemetery after dark. A short while later they approach the gates, and head up the walkway to the large black wooden structure. “How should we do this?” Mark asks. “Why don’t we knock,” Aradyn suggests. “Doesn’t sound very stealthy to me,” Blip replies. Blip and Cassie decide to wait outside, and send the male half-elf and elves to talk directly to the Caretaker. They keep the building in sight, but also check out the surrounding carriage house and supply buildings.
They knock on the door, which is answered by the same tall thin human attired in dark clothing as directed them to the Moorehead funeral two days earlier. They are all still wearing the same disguises they had on then, however the man gives no hint of recognition. They say they were sent out by the city to investigate any strange happenings. He invites them inside, and ushers them into a study, the room decorated in somber tones. They are invited to sit.
The Caretaker asks if they would like to make funeral arrangements for themselves or a loved one. Lono quips “What about Serita? I’d love to arrange her funeral.” Aradyn replies “No, he said us or a loved one. I don’t think I’d put her in either category.”
Getting back to the subject at hand, they say that they are following up on a report of a gargoyle in the vicinity. He says that there is nothing of that sort around. He assures them that his cemetery has no undead what-so-ever in it. They have a reputation to maintain, and the clergy of the city’s various churches frequently visit to ensure that there are no undead present. Lono comments “Right, the priests regularly come in and spray for ghosts and ghouls.” Aradyn comments about Gargoyles being a type of stone-bodied monster and not undead.
The Caretaker reiterates that “There is absolutely nothing of that sort here. I maintain a clean cemetery.” He tells them that “Children often have overactive imaginations. I suspect that some young boys must have seen carvings or sculpture on some headstones or mausoleums and imagined that is being this gargoyle. “We never said the report came from a child,” Aradyn states.
“What has gone on here today?” Mark asks. He says that it has been a quiet day, with no funerals, which is a welcome change given that both of the prior days included services for members of two of the cities prominent families. “Who?” Lono asks. The Caretaker tells them that the Moorehead family had services for a great aunt on the 9th, while Lord Kingsbury of the Kingsbury family was laid to rest on the 10th. “Where exactly?” Aradyn asks, and the Caretaker points to the approximately locations of a map of each family plot. The man assures them that everything is fine and peaceful at the cemetery.
They depart, and then meet up with the girls. They relate what was said, with Mark commenting that he was surprised the man did not recognize any of them from before, and they certainly gave him an opportunity to say something after the Moorehead funeral was brought up. Aradyn says “Hold on. Lono mentioned Serita’s name, and he showed no recognition of it either. Since he works with all of the city’s churches shouldn’t he know the name of the Jawlt Council Minister of Religions?”
Cassie’s owl Deanna then makes a discovery in one of the supply buildings, finding a recently moved poorly made wooden casket in a room with shovels and ropes. The others enter, immediately detecting the smell of death. Inside the casket is a body of an old man that appears to have begun decomposing for a few days. Blip notices the nails are well manicured and don’t appear to have ever been used for heavy labor. The man is also attired in rather elegant clothing. “Looks a bit rich for the cheap box he’s lying in,” Lono comments.
Cassie says “I’ll handle this,” and casts a Speak with Dead spell on the man. She asks him his name, and is told “Lord Martin Kingsbury.” She asks about what has happened since he died, but he says he has no idea. Lono says “I thought the spirits hung around to hear what people have to say about them. I know I would.” She asks him how he died, and he replies “Sickness and Old Age. I was ninety-bloody-six.” The spell ends.
They next head over to the Kingsbury Family Plot. There are no recently dug graves, and based upon tracks on the ground, conclude that the body is in the mausoleum. The door to it is locked, and neither Blip or Lono are unable to open it. Lono grabs a rock, and breaks the lock with his strength. The door is opened, and all five members of the party enter. Inside is an elaborate oak casket covered with flowers. The lid to the casket is opened, and they look inside to see the corpse of the Cemetery Caretaker, that appears to have been dead for at least a day. “I thought as much” Aradyn comments.
It is now twilight, the sun having just set over the horizon. While an owl has far superior vision to humanoids at night, during the day it is not significantly different than a humans. As such, Deanna’s eyes have not yet adjusted to ‘night mode’. Perched on the limb of a tree above the cemetery plot, she therefore does not notice the descending gargoyle and the person it is carrying until after the pair have landed beside the door and only exit to the mausoleum.
The stealth team has spent the day attempting to discover the final clue to the primary target. They have been less than successful, having picked up a number of rumors, but nothing that materialized to anything definitive. One rumor they hear is that a gargoyle-type creature was spotted at dawn flying near the Caretaker’s House at the Jawltorn Cemetery. The own Deanna conveys this to Serita, who sends back the reply “Check it out.”
The two newcomers, Darrius and Charen, are both still off following up on a lead about the female ILA leader, and the others decide not to wait, as they would prefer to not be in a cemetery after dark. A short while later they approach the gates, and head up the walkway to the large black wooden structure. “How should we do this?” Mark asks. “Why don’t we knock,” Aradyn suggests. “Doesn’t sound very stealthy to me,” Blip replies. Blip and Cassie decide to wait outside, and send the male half-elf and elves to talk directly to the Caretaker. They keep the building in sight, but also check out the surrounding carriage house and supply buildings.
They knock on the door, which is answered by the same tall thin human attired in dark clothing as directed them to the Moorehead funeral two days earlier. They are all still wearing the same disguises they had on then, however the man gives no hint of recognition. They say they were sent out by the city to investigate any strange happenings. He invites them inside, and ushers them into a study, the room decorated in somber tones. They are invited to sit.
The Caretaker asks if they would like to make funeral arrangements for themselves or a loved one. Lono quips “What about Serita? I’d love to arrange her funeral.” Aradyn replies “No, he said us or a loved one. I don’t think I’d put her in either category.”
Getting back to the subject at hand, they say that they are following up on a report of a gargoyle in the vicinity. He says that there is nothing of that sort around. He assures them that his cemetery has no undead what-so-ever in it. They have a reputation to maintain, and the clergy of the city’s various churches frequently visit to ensure that there are no undead present. Lono comments “Right, the priests regularly come in and spray for ghosts and ghouls.” Aradyn comments about Gargoyles being a type of stone-bodied monster and not undead.
The Caretaker reiterates that “There is absolutely nothing of that sort here. I maintain a clean cemetery.” He tells them that “Children often have overactive imaginations. I suspect that some young boys must have seen carvings or sculpture on some headstones or mausoleums and imagined that is being this gargoyle. “We never said the report came from a child,” Aradyn states.
“What has gone on here today?” Mark asks. He says that it has been a quiet day, with no funerals, which is a welcome change given that both of the prior days included services for members of two of the cities prominent families. “Who?” Lono asks. The Caretaker tells them that the Moorehead family had services for a great aunt on the 9th, while Lord Kingsbury of the Kingsbury family was laid to rest on the 10th. “Where exactly?” Aradyn asks, and the Caretaker points to the approximately locations of a map of each family plot. The man assures them that everything is fine and peaceful at the cemetery.
They depart, and then meet up with the girls. They relate what was said, with Mark commenting that he was surprised the man did not recognize any of them from before, and they certainly gave him an opportunity to say something after the Moorehead funeral was brought up. Aradyn says “Hold on. Lono mentioned Serita’s name, and he showed no recognition of it either. Since he works with all of the city’s churches shouldn’t he know the name of the Jawlt Council Minister of Religions?”
Cassie’s owl Deanna then makes a discovery in one of the supply buildings, finding a recently moved poorly made wooden casket in a room with shovels and ropes. The others enter, immediately detecting the smell of death. Inside the casket is a body of an old man that appears to have begun decomposing for a few days. Blip notices the nails are well manicured and don’t appear to have ever been used for heavy labor. The man is also attired in rather elegant clothing. “Looks a bit rich for the cheap box he’s lying in,” Lono comments.
Cassie says “I’ll handle this,” and casts a Speak with Dead spell on the man. She asks him his name, and is told “Lord Martin Kingsbury.” She asks about what has happened since he died, but he says he has no idea. Lono says “I thought the spirits hung around to hear what people have to say about them. I know I would.” She asks him how he died, and he replies “Sickness and Old Age. I was ninety-bloody-six.” The spell ends.
They next head over to the Kingsbury Family Plot. There are no recently dug graves, and based upon tracks on the ground, conclude that the body is in the mausoleum. The door to it is locked, and neither Blip or Lono are unable to open it. Lono grabs a rock, and breaks the lock with his strength. The door is opened, and all five members of the party enter. Inside is an elaborate oak casket covered with flowers. The lid to the casket is opened, and they look inside to see the corpse of the Cemetery Caretaker, that appears to have been dead for at least a day. “I thought as much” Aradyn comments.
It is now twilight, the sun having just set over the horizon. While an owl has far superior vision to humanoids at night, during the day it is not significantly different than a humans. As such, Deanna’s eyes have not yet adjusted to ‘night mode’. Perched on the limb of a tree above the cemetery plot, she therefore does not notice the descending gargoyle and the person it is carrying until after the pair have landed beside the door and only exit to the mausoleum.