Carrion Crown - Session 2.5

Upon returning from the false crypt, Chantal decides to wander around town during the afternoon while the others continue their research at the Lorrimor place.
Reaching the town square, she finds few people lingering about, most likely due to the downpour and grey clouds currently choking the sky.
A few townsfolk converse quietly amongst each other, shooting uneasy glances at Chantal, while a pair of children appear to be playing a skipping game by the nearby bridge.
Chantal pulls her cape around her to keep out the rain, smiling as she observes the children, still merry even despite the dark skies.
Young Boy: "Boo, if only Mina and Tristan were here... then we could actually hold the rope!"
Chantal: "Something the matter, little-one?"
Chantal leans over a little to seem less intimidating.
Young Boy: "H-Huh? Oh, missy, will you help us play our game!"
Chantal: "Wait, help with- Ah, I suppose it can't hurt."
A small girl holding a dog in her arms stares at Chantal, turning to the boy worriedly.
Young Girl: "B-But Andrui, grandpa said we shouldn't talk to strangers... 'Specially n-not ones who aren't from here."
Chantal tries to keep her expression neutral.
Chantal: "I suppose it is raining... does your family know you're out in weather like this?"
Young Boy: "Yeah, they want us home soon but it's only just over there!"
Young Boy points at the nearby building, a large tavern sign hanging from it.
Chantal nods "As for your grandfather... he's just trying to protect you. You shouldn't look down on him, miss."
"While foreigners aren't any more threatening than anyone else, he just cares about you and..."
"What is it's name?"
Young Girl replies immediately, craving the attention.
Young Girl: "B-Barty! He's a stray but lives 'round here. Gonna ask grandpa if we can let him stay, because... because..."
Chantal: "Because?"
Young Girl looks down, sniffling.
Chantal: "What happened?"
"Ah... the... recent events."
Young Boy: "Illa, that puss was pretty old anyway! Sure gonna miss 'im, though..."
Chantal: "That's no way to speak about such things," snaps Chantal before regaining her composure.
"Would you like me to help ask him?"
Andrui: "S-Sorry, Miss! Didn't mean no offence... But uh, yeah, sure!"
Chantal: "I've lost pets before, I know how it can feel to lose a friend like them."
Illa: "We've k-known Barty since he was a pup! He behaves real good, serious..."
Chantal: "How about you lead me to your grandpa then? I'm sure he'll say yes to a good dog like Barty."
Illa nods, her expression visibly lightening.
Illa: "O-Okay!"
Guiding Chantal into the nearby tavern, the pair of children run in enthusiastically, the girl letting the dog loose to run around on the floor.
The tavern itself is almost empty, except for a few men gathered around a table, and a barmaid tending the counter.
Chantal waves politely, trying to not look too odd as the children lead the way.
Chantal: "Is he in?"
Barmaid continues to scrub the counter with a worn-out cloth, responding to Chantal without eye contact.
Barmaid: "Who you looking for, Miss? Zokar?"
Chantal: "Is he these children's grandfather?"
"They wanted to talk to him about something, and I... well, offered to help."
Barmaid looks up at the children, nodding, before taking a double-glance.
Barmaid: "Hey, Illa! I already told you; no animals indoors! We're tryna run a business here, y'know!"
Chantal: "Sorry! It's my fault... they wished to ask him about keeping a dog they befriended."
A voice responds from the nearby stairs, an overweight, older-looking man appearing.
Chantal: "Ah! You must be... Zokar?"
Barkeep: "Stop yelling will you, Celes-- Ah... might there be a problem here, lass?"
"Aye, that I am."
Chantal: "These are your grandchildren, yes? Illa and... Andrui?"
"They seemed to have befriended an ownerless dog, and wished to ask you if they might keep it?"
Zokar: "Aye. And this here's my eldest, Celes."
Chantal: "It's good to meet both of you."
Zokar: "Hmm, that pup does look familiar..."
Celes: "Pah, likewise, girl."
Celes looks down grumpily, continuing to clean the counter.
Chantal: "With what has been happening lately... surely you could find it in your hearts to shelter it?"
Illa: "P-Please grandpa! He ain't got n-nowhere else to go..."
The dog looks up at Zokar in unison with Illa, almost as if mimicking her pitiful facial expression.
Zokar: "...That's fine, that's fine. But go wash him in the bathing pot now then, will you?"
Chantal: "Thank you sir..." responds Chantal, allowing herself to smile.
Andrui: "Will do, gramps! Come on, Illa."
Chantal takes a seat at a table to dry off and warm up for a moment
Chantal: "Not many customers today? Is it the weather?"
Celes: "Weather's pretty much always like this, girl. People be worryin' 'bout strange events and all that."
Chantal: "It seems like a grim time in Ravengro... if the rumours and the Wealday Parchment are true, it sounds as if the last week has been especially odd... not to mention why I came to town."
Zokar: "Aye. See all sorts of news in it, 'specially since little Andrui's the one who delivers it to the town."
Chantal: "He does a good job!~"
Zokar chuckles, nodding at Chantal.
Zokar: "That he does. Although it's rare to hear of happy occasions lately. Only a couple days ago did one of the farmers find his cows sacrificed."
Chantal: "That's... grim... I'd heard of what happened to a cat..."
"I take it, it seemed not the work of a mere predator?"
Celes: "Didn't you read the parchment? Sliced across its throat and stomach, it was."
Chantal: "Who would do that..."
The group of men seated in the corner, appear to be stacking a pack of harrow cards on the table, intermittently drinking.
Chantal: "Well... sadly I know the damned answer."
"I've seen people do twisted things."
"For twisted reasons... and stopping them is my trade."
Celes: "Could be worse, girl. All the people from a few towns north vanished last month. Probably best be grateful we ain't got it worse."
Chantal: "I suppose that is a way to look at it..."
Zokar: "Ah yes... that was Clover's Crossing, wasn't it?"
Chantal: "Still, given circumstances of my visit, I might as well look into these... 'sacrifices'."
"Oh? Was there any trace of what happened?"
Zokar: "You'd best be careful if you plan on doing that, lass. The night's a dangerous time of day."
"But aye. Devout bunch they were, I heard. Whole town collapsed in a couple minutes. Must've been tremors or something..."
Chantal: "Perhaps... thank you for the heads up. I might just stop by what's left once my business here is finished."
Celes: "...You lookin' for trouble or somethin', girl?"
The nearby group give a few cheers as the stack of harrow cards reaches a greater height.
Chantal: "Trouble is my career... I travel helping towns like this with 'problems' beyond what the guards can help with. Setting wards, tracking down monsters... whether inhuman or not, that might seek to cause trouble, and help to educate the masses on how to stay safe and spot 'trouble' before it spots them."
"I'm still somewhat new to this path, but I've already seen a share of strangeness... I learned from the late Professor Lorrimor."
Celes: "...Huh, well ain't that fine and dandy? Folks here could probably learn a thing or two from you."
Chantal: "That is my hope." she says, her mood lightening.
"The cows and cat... and what happened to Lorrimor... something or someone is up to something in this town."
Zokar: "Well you'd best be caref--"
Breaks into silence as one of the nearby men cries out triumphantly, the harrow stack seemingly complete.
As he does so, however, the cards suddenly burst into flame, flaring up towards the ceiling in a blinding flash of light.
[Chantal : Fortitude Save: 17]
Chantal: "What the-"
Chantal shades her eyes with her hands, standing up rapidly.
The people at the table shout out in panic, seemingly blinded by the conflagration.
Zokar is blinded by the light, while Celes ducks behind the counter.
The floorboards below begin to creek uncontrollably, as the muffled sound of numerous people screaming echoes from below them.
Chantal moves over to the table, trying to see what may have been the source of the flash "I'd suggest anyone who can gets out! This is far from normal, and I don't want anyone else getting caught in whatever happens."
As the harsh light begins to dissipate, the muffled screaming subsides, and the harrow cards are left unscorched on the table. A strong smell of smoke lingers in the air.
Celes: "Wh... What in Hell was that?"
Chantal: "Something not of this world... but it's gone now."
Chantal examines the cards and table closely, for any scorch marks or other oddness
Chantal picks up the top card. "Flames and chaos..."
"An omen, perhaps? Or perhaps merely some strange quirk to add to the strangeness."
"I... assume this has not happened before?" she asks, turning to Celes.
Zokar rubs his eyes, before looking around and clapping his hands together abruptly.
Zokar: "Right, we're closed! On your way, all of you!"
Celes: "Course it ain't! Bah, can't ever trust somethin' a Varisian makes..."
Chantal: "A wise choice, sir..."
"Though I doubt it was any fault of the cards themselves."
Chantal folds the suspect card's edge. "Paper... it's what it depicts, perhaps, that matters."
Chantal: "Go easy on the candles tonight, stick together, avoid the basement until morning... hopefully by then anything left lingering will have left."
Zokar: "Yes, yes... That sounds wise. My thanks, lass. ...Oh, but before you leave, what was your name?"
Chantal: "Chantal, Chantal Bejissen. It has been... interesting to meet you, Zokar."
"May I take this deck?"
Zokar: "Likewise. And aye, of course. Just make sure you get home safely."
Chantal: "I will be fine. I've learned not to fear the night... for fear is just what the night wants from us."
"May the divines keep you safe sir, goodbye."
Chantal packs away the harrow deck before leaving, trying to keep it as in-order as she can.
Zokar and Celes watch Chantal as she leaves with dumbfounded expressions, a macabre atmosphere hanging in the air.