Burial of Petros Lorrimor
The next morning the party awoke and made their way to the local graveyard, a large hill north of town full of gravestones and mausoleums known as the Restlands.
Upon arrival at the entrance they came upon a a wooden wagon containing a coffin with Petros Lorrimors body was waiting by the gate. Standing beside the wagon were the guests they had met from the previoius night along with surprisingly few townsfolk.
The party was surprised that a man of Petros Lorrimors stature and long-standing in this community would have his DreamWake so poorly attended. When asked about this Kendra simply stated that things had been strange lately.
Attending locals were the young lad the party had met the previous day, Pevrin Elkarid and his father tavernkeeper Zokar Elkarid. Also attending were Councilors Vashian Hearthmount and Gharen Muricar, and Jominda Fallenbridge the local apothecary close friend to Petros.
Kendra asked if any attending would act as pallbearers and Tonii, Rikkar, Royston, Dr. Utterson, Acting Sergeant Dun and Kvalca Sain stepped up and lifted the coffin out of the wagon. With that the group of mourners made their way into the Restlands following the dusty path of the Dreamwake towards Professor Lorrimar’s final resting place.
They made their way past the grim stone grace markers and imposing mausoleums for only a short while and were just turning from the Dreamwake onto the Eversleep when a group of six surly looking men bearing improvised weapons made of farmtools stepped from the surrounding stonework to block their path. The tallest of these toughs was an elderly but wiry retired soldier named Gibs Hephenus. He speaks out as soon as the procession comes to a stop.
“Thats far enough! We been talking and we don’t want Lorrimor buried in the Restlands.”
With that Kendra exclaimed.
“Gibs! What in the lady’s name are you up to you old fool?”
Gibs bristled at this and continued.
“You can take your father up river and bury him there if you want, but he isn’t going in the ground here!”
Kendra balled her fists.
“What are you talking about? I arranged it with father Grimsburrow, He is waiting for us. The grave has already been…”
“You don’t get it woman… you with all your fancy book-learning. We wont have no necromancer buried in the same place as out kin! I suggest you move out while you still can. Folks are pretty upset about this right now.”
With that Kendra throws her arms in the air and marches towards Gibs in a fury.
“You really are a madman! Necromancy! Are you really that stupid Gibs!?”
With that Gibs yells, “I won’t have no woman calling me stupid. Get ’em boys!”
With that the group of cronies surges forwards with their garden tool weapons to scare off the funeral procession. Gibs however backpedals as Kendra bears down on him.
The party spends a valuable minute slowly and carefully lowering Petros Lorrimor’s coffin from their shoulders while the ruffians bear down on them. This delay earns then a few hard strikes as they can’t defend themselves against the attackers.
Vashian Hearthmount quickly rushes to the side avoiding combat to the sever glare of Rikkar Olande who now marks the councilor as a coward and unworthy of his future friendship.
Once the coffin is set down the party sets about returning the favor. Royston disarms one with a flick of her whip, Dr. Utterson and Tonii Jai deliver knockout punches to a couple in quick succession, Acting Sergeant Dun threatens to cut them all down with his sword.
The farmhands are little match for the party and truth be told their heart really isnt into it. Finally Rikkar aims his Flintlock pistol in the air and fires. Smoke and acrid stench fills the combat area. This is too much for the attacker and they flee. Gibs seeing he is soon to be alone and still being backed up by an enraged Kendra takes flight. They soon disappear amongst the surrounding gravestone.
Kendra is furious and as she walks back towards the procession she delivers a hard kick to the ribs of one of the unconscious attackers.
The sound of combat and the Rikkar’s shot has brought Father Grimsburrow and his two attending gravediggers running. Father Grimsburrow is a tall, severe man. The local high priest of the temple of Pharasma. He is greatly angered by the actions of Gibs and his cronies and promises they will get a severe talking to from himself and the Sheriff. The father administers healing to the laid out attackers and then sends them off with a smoldering look and a warning.
The procession continues with Father Grimsburrow escorting it and soon arrive at the grave.
Kendra says a few words as the coffin is lowered into the prepared stone-lined pit and then asks if is anyone else who would offer a few words.
Royston, Rikkar, Dr. Utterson and Tonii all offer well delivered eulogies to the professor. Their words are greatly appreciated by Kendra.
With that the procession clears out until the only ones remaing are Kendra and the four friends.
As they stand there talking an expensive, black-lacquered coach with two drivers and a doorman pulls up. A well dressed man gets out and asks if this is the funeral for Petros Lorrimor.
When he is told it is he asks for Kendra and then hands her an envelope with the letter “A.A” signed to it. He then opens a box and removes a marionette. Walking over to the grave he puts the small puppet against the headstone and then, with a bow, remounts the carriage and is gone.
Very strange.
Tonii sidles of to the gravestone and looks at the marionette. It is a basic puppet with no paint, strings or finish. The only paint is a pair of black crosses for eyes, and a red painted downturned frown. There is a black tear of paint below on eye. Tonii looks around, reaches out and carefully pokes the puppet with a quick jab. It slowly slides to the ground, tipping over. Satisfied he returns to the group.
The party returns to the house for a drink and to await the arrival of Councilor Vashian Hearthmount for the reading of the will.
Professor Petros Lorrimor … Is laid to rest.
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