Ghost Story

[GamesMaster]

"Indeed?" he asks, fairly perking up. "Tell me the particulars, and I will prepare an exorcism."

[Varric]

Probably gets bored (tiny ass bullshit town) out here. "Might need more than just your basic ritual, it's fairly heavy weight. So to speak, of course. Phobophage of some kind I believe, though it's entirely possible the spirit simply enjoys playing with its food. Called forth very good illusions, brought back seemings of the rooms when the Verberry's were still living there. Invisible. Fear and dread aura, some minor chill as well. Noticeable but not damaging at all. Attacked with a focused spike of dread and despair. And this was all on Mileen's day."

[GamesMaster]

"Verberrys," he says slowly. "That's the Lord of the Manor, isn't it? Wasn't there some trouble in his younger days? Before my time, of course, but perhaps..."

[Varric]

"Can't say that I know much at all about the previous owner myself," Varric admits. "When he passed, his estate was sold by debtors so I never so much as wrote the man."

[GamesMaster]

"There ought to be a family Text somewhere in the manor, with his family tree," suggests John. "I shall have to ask around. There's something nagging me about it, from when I was a wee lad. But, I digress. Your phobophage. I shall look up the correct banishing ritual in the library."

[Varric]

"I challenged it, formally and in Celestial, as the owner of the land and home. Faced it down and sent it off."

[GamesMaster]

"Thrice?"

[Varric]

"Just once so far," Varric admits, a bit impressed the paladin had realized the import of his words so quickly. "I was hoping to get supplies for the next two rounds. Blessed silver, holy water, maybe some holy scripture on silk. That sort of thing."

[GamesMaster]

"I will stand beside you when you do. Have you any other help secured?"

[Varric]

His mind flickers over Emma's role and he shakes his head. "No combatants, no. Possibly a benign ghost," he adds after a moment. "Seems to be the target the phobophage is after. Young girl, at least in appearance and mannerism, but, well, ghost."

[GamesMaster]

"I see. Have you found the identity of the ghost? We should lay both to rest."

[Varric]

"The benign one-- who recited from memory and without any difficulty two full Chants and some other scripture-- called herself Bethie. Human girl, after toddler but before puberty near as I can tell, dark hair and eyes. Very faint elven and dwarven accents on certain words, hinting at a better than average education. Clean and healthy looking, no visible wounds, lethal or otherwise." Varric decides to hold back on the journal for now. No real proof of connection yet (private) anyway. 

[GamesMaster]

He nods. "That should be enough to begin with -- I shall begin an investigation into the history of--"

"Dear? Are you volunteering again?"

A plump, matronly woman with some grey at her temples pads out from a side room into the sanctuary, a warm, slightly exhasperated smile on her face. Really, the symbol of Astea on her throat is unnecessary; a woman like this, calling a Vangalite 'dear' in just that way, could be nothing less than a priest of Astea. 

"Marge, be sensible. This man has a serious ghost predicament. It's my duty and my honor to involve myself in their removal."

[Varric]

Varric offers a faint smile, politely staying the fuck out of what's possibly a lover's quarrel, or as good as.

[GamesMaster]

"Oh, well, if it's a serious ghost predicament," she laughs, turning then to offer a hand to Varric. "Bright Margaret Renly at your service. Please do forgive John, he can be a touch pushy at times."