Gameplay 1a - The Dark Side Of Love

The Village of Wickhampton

Having left Torkertown, you traveled north west toward Cambridge. You are near, hoping to perhaps reach Cambridge in the next day or two, weather permitting.

In the last hamlet, you heard talk of a spate of grave robbings in a small nearby village. Locals in the neighboring hamlets consider themselves fortunate the grave robbers have not spread their wings and come to steal their dead.

The graveyard of the small church in the hamlet of Wickhampton has been desecrated several times over the last six months and corpses stolen. The villagers are divided in their opinion of who is to blame, with grave robbers and necromancers receiving equal curses.

You arrive just before dark and make their way to the inn. While eating your supper, the heroes overhear two locals discussing the situation.

"I know we are late, but I haven't the heart to watch over that cursed graveyard tonight. Another ale might make it better," says one.

"Yer a fool, Jack Larson. Yea think a belly full of rotgut is going to better your odds of survivin' an encounter the dread necromancer? More likely you'll get us both killed. But I not be going there alone, so finish up quick. Molly will never let me hear the end if I give up good wage."

From their table Cecily can't help but draw herself into the current conversation. She knows they should keep a low profile, and yet... "I will be back." She stands up, quietly walking up to these locals like a ghost.

"Excuse me...gentlemen." She looks between them, internally deciding that is not the most accurate term. "I couldn't help but give notice to your dilemma. I am a scholar you see, and in the pursuit of knowledge would be enthralled to hear more of the specifics pertaining to the situation."

Ataan not one to drink to excess follows at the sound of something curious. "Also Miss Meldrum's associates if free are quite good at dealing with things if there's something amiss if it's a bit odd like an apparition. Also if I'm along I'll try to make sure you get back to this Molly in one piece safe and sound if I can afford such things." Ataan pipes up to state dusting off his hat.

Gerald starts to get up and follow but thinks better of it and sits back down. He doesn't want the group to feel threatened, so hoping for more information for his friends from the "gentlemen", he stays put, nursing his ale while listening.

They are initially suspicious but are win over easily and explain that they're gravediggers, and a few things: "We aint got no knowing of nothing what's going on...

If you was to give company for party of the night, that would be a mighty kindness...

But they're unable to fill in any other details other than their peasants fear of a dread necromancer.

Will you accompany them to the graveyard this night?

"Well gentlemen what say you this two labors are in need of a few extra pair of eyes in case something goes afoot." Ataan asks the others after agreeing to accompany the two men himself.

Yes, I will oblige and accompany everyone.

Finishing your drinks and wrapping up food for the road, you accompany the gravediggers to the precinct. It's a dark night, with low clouds that hide even star and moon shine. You get close you the churchyard, when you see the glow of a lantern light, and the shadowy forms of several men.

The gravediggers are flummoxed as to how to proceed.

What's your move?

"I take it this many people at this time of night is not normal? Maybe we should go and move over quietly and investigate, from what you two were talking about going over in a civilized way might end up with them accosting us..." Ataan suggests looking to the others to see if they have other ideas.

The gravediggers, Jack and Grady, both whisper that they're that only ones that should be here this night, so it must be the graverobbers.

Or perhaps a distraction by one of us? I mean if we are expecting trouble, perhaps that might be the way to go? Or if we think they are definitely a danger to us, shoot them all from range? They are evil beings no?

"Well get less clues from dead people as to what they were doing." Ataan adds shaking his head.

Then send one of us and the rest stay back. I just want to keep us alive.

"Anyone know how to sneak around I don't know how but I can give it a go."

"I could approach them as I did the gentlemen who now accompany us: by simply putting on a calm face. I can probe them for information, meanwhile it should give everyone ample time to get closer, if there is an necromancer about these may be lackeys."

I'm not particularly sneaky. That's why I suggested some kind of distraction.

Sneakers should make a sneaky test. This should be Stealth, or roll a 1d4-2,1d6-2 of you don't have Stealth as a skill.

"I will be the distraction; less weapons on me, less of a perceived threat."

A distraction seems like an appropriate way to aid stealth. The distractor will need to make a distracting test (Persuasion or Intimidate are two ways you could do that). A success grants +1 to the stealth rolls, with an additional +1 for each raise (max +4).