Quillary's gaze flickers over to Calypso and Jorin, before going back to the alley. "Not the kind that floats on the ocean."

Quote from Mingofaust >>

Quillary's gaze flickers over to Calypso and Jorin, before going back to the alley.

(There are too many guards in the way for Quillary to make it to the alley discreetly, and Calypso doesn't want anyone in the party wandering off before the conversation is over.)

Calypso does not shake Jorin's hand, but she does give a slightly bow to show greeting/respect.

"No medals or prison desired, yet that is in front of you. The carrot and the stick... I need your services this night. We are still undermanned from guards dispensing justice on their own during Howldown. And many of them decided, instead of reporting back promptly, to join in the Simril celebrations. There will be order and discipline, soon enough." (From her eye movement's, you can see she decided to count the guards in her squad, and a slight tensing of anger when she comes up one short.)

"Instead of sleeping the night in a dank cell, your group will investigate these undead attacks. Find the cause, whether it be person or object, and report your findings to me. You may not uncover the truth in one night, but make good use of your time. There will be consequences if you decide to drink instead of investigate... If you find the culprits, you will be rewarded, and absolved of any part of the damages to the Flag-Horned Flagon."

Now Quillary is paying attention. "Well, if it is either risking our very souls to fight undead in place of your wayward guards, or a safe night in the, what do you call it, the drunk tank? I suppose the choice is clear. We will send these undead to the far side of the veil. Do you know the whereabouts of these three? Marigold Butterleaf, Regis Brightgem, and Bitter-Blossom?"

Quote from Mingofaust >>

"Do you know the whereabouts of these three? Marigold Butterleaf, Regis Brightgem, and Bitter-Blossom?"

You were told that by Rooster earlier, so you don't have to ask for directions. (OOC: Just say where you want to go, and it will happen.)

Speaking of Rooster, he was pushed out of the tavern with the rest of you, but you don't see him around anymore. He must have slipped away into the crowd.

Hildigrim finally loosens his tongue. "If you are cognizant of the possessions, how is it we're being charged with being drunk and disorderly?" He motions to his friends. "We are clearly not inebriated — and as for disorderly, I believe that can be blamed on the ghosts, not us!" Without waiting for a response, the halfling continues, "However, as the night has progressed, the prospect of a ghost hunt has presented itself, so I will bend to your will and obey your command for the joy it will bring, despite its inequitablility." He smiles at Calypso. "If you could pass on any information you have already gathered concerning the task, it would be appreciated."

Pascal whispers aside to the rest of the group, “Ya’ll notice how trouble just seems to follow us? We got like a magnet goin’ or something.”

Quote from DirtyDogP >>

 "If you could pass on any information you have already gathered concerning the task, it would be appreciated."

"Just that the normal Howldown mischief escalated into minor violence since yesterday. Tonight's attack was both the most obvious and the most dangerous. We haven't been able to find a pattern to the attacks. Since you've had a chance to talk to the 4 people possessed, you are likely to know more at the moment."

Quillary seems ready to visit the 3 people that Rooster met in the morning.

Before that, Drusk would like to check out the Amphail statue, the one that the 3 adventurers joked about encountering a patch of cold air. It is near the tavern, just a bit down the street.

Yes, statue first, Quillary agrees.

The party walks a short distance to the statue of Amphail the Just, in the town center. You circle it a few times, but you don't find any cold zones that the adventurers claimed were near the statue.

There is a copper plaque at the base of the statue, then gives a short description of Amphail's history. Below the plaque is a curious mark on the stone. It looks like the condensation ring that a sweaty mug might leave on a tabletop, and measures about 4 inches across. Quillary now notices that Jorin has a similar mark on his forearm. After checking the rest of the party, Hildigrim also has this mark on his forearm, but the others (Drusk, Pascal, Quillary) do not.

Before you have a chance to discuss this, Hildigrim silently gestures with his head toward the back of the statue. Everyone catches a glimpse of a ghostly figure nearby, heaving with sobs. This ghost, unlike those in the tavern, has a tall, indistinct shape and undefined features. After you notice the ghost, it looses a soul-wrenching howl of despair and disappears into the wind.

Hildigrim can't help but smile. "Hainard's hairy toes, this is a full-on ghost hunt!" He thrusts out his arm with the mark at the group. "What do you think this means?"

Does Hildigrim remember any cold feelings lately?

Pascal shrinks down into his own body as Hildi asks if we know what that means, “That we gonna be neck up in voodoo...”

Pascal is oddly spooked. You get the sense that Pascal does not like ghosts. Or voodoo. Or Gris-Gris.

Quote from DirtyDogP >>

Does Hildigrim remember any cold feelings lately?

Neither Hildigrim or Jorin remember any unusual cold spots in the last day. (It is winter, but the weather is above freezing at the moment.)

Both of them start making weird gestures with their limbs and all their fingers, but after a few seconds, the party realizes that they are checking that they still have full control of their bodies. At least so far, you don't think the mark is related to ghost possession.

Quillary is looking pretty somber after the sad ghost, and just watches the boys stretch and gesticulate. She pats Pascal kindly on his big red scaly hide. "It will be okay, scaly friend, we will help the dead move on, and that voo doo that they do will go with them. If you two are done, we should see about rousting these individuals from their sleep. Though I wager they are not sleeping well, if they have shut their eyes at all."

"If they will again," she ends darkly.

"Let us begin with Marigold Butterleaf, the 'deeply-robed' wizard."

Jorin lets out an uncharacteristic, high pitched yelp at the sudden sight of the mark.  He then looks about sheepishly, grumbles, and spits on the ground.

"Hildi's hairy toes, I do not like this place." he says, and looks at Hildigrim to see if he used his friend's phrase correctly.

With the celebration of Simril, there are more people than you would normally see on the streets at this time of night, but the traffic is still light. While businesses are closed, shopkeepers will sometimes open the doors to customers this night. (Easier to stay awake to dawn when interacting with other people.)

It is a bit of a hike to the edge of town. The neighborhood is reasonably well to-do, with a guard shack indicating protection for those living here. At the location you aimed for is a 1-story structure with a separate shed and an empty fenced pen. Next to the door of the building is a sign reading "House of Gentle Necromancy". Below those words is a simple cartoon drawing of a small child lovingly snuggling a mangled zombie cat which is peacefully purring.

The sign indicates that it is past business hours, but in fresh chalk it mentions Simril customers welcome. You can tell a few lights are on inside.

Quillary notes the drawing, running her fingers along it. "This Simril, it is a holiday? We are likely to find people awake, then? Convenient."

Quote from Mingofaust >>

Quillary notes the drawing, running her fingers along it. "This Simril, it is a holiday? We are likely to find people awake, then? Convenient."

(OOC: I'm using what you posted on the Campaign Page, under "The Calendar and Upcoming Holidays". I haven't emphasized the star-gazing part, but the holiday seemed like a convenient way to keep the most townspeople up this night. I'm curious how the original module writer handled it, because I sure wouldn't bother with aggressive strangers knocking at my door at 2 AM.)

Backtracking a little; hopefully it won't cause a problem ...

When Jorin looks at Hildgrim after using his modified Goodbody family phrase, he sees the halfling grin up at him a little sheepishly.

As the group begins to move away from the statue, Hildigrim kneels down and places the strange mark on his arm to the strange mark on the statue's base just to see if anything happens.

Assuming nothing happens ...

"Simril is an annual winter festival," Hildigrim begins. He goes on to talk for about five minutes about the chief activities centered around stars and Tymora. He finally finishes, smiling and oblivious to any impatience. "Shall we enter?" he asks, walking into the building.

(Backtracking is fine. As you guessed, nothing happens when Hildigrim placed his arm next to the mark on the statue.)

The door is locked.

Do you knock on the door, pick the lock, or look for another way in?

Quillary will knock. At this point we have no probable cause to break and enter, as it were. :)