"I recommend we have at least two other 'contacts' and we go no where without at least one of them. If the enemy can surprise us once, until we have the ability to pierce the veil of the spirit world with our gaze, we will be able to be surprised again. In this way, we can move well and strongly, and hopefully survive."
Sitting atop her mule again, Oko perched on her shoulder, Natanja pondered the arrival of the imps and wondered what else there was in store for them, both on the road and in the village of Endurant.
Hearing Eli speak of moving in small groups when out and about, Natanja believed the sound suggestion warranted consideration.
"Even though it has been mostly Oko and I working together on the road, having additional support is not a bad thing." Natanja lifted her hand and stroked Oko's warm chest while considering her kin and whom she had spoken with in some kind of length. She was capable of manoeuvring/guide/riding the mule with one hand on the reins.
"If my cousins: Kaya, Cernan, Kiwyn and Marius would be happy with my presence and skill, I offer my company on their respective excursions."
Natanja looked out, across the landscape/the road up ahead, hoping to spy anything of note; wary due to their recent encounter. Eth, guide my eyes so I may truly see.
Poterol shakes his head as he rides along with his 'cousins'. "I normally prefer to walk alone, however, I see the reason behind such a request. I don't think I could stand up to a single fiend, even of that minor caliber, on my own."
Looking across to Poterol on his mule, Natanja gave him a strange smile. "Cousin, you were not alone. You had your squirrel, Merry, for company. And your Spirit to guide you."
Oko rubbed her face against Natanja's finger.
"Oko and I can occasionally walk with you, if you can accept our company. I am available to any of my kin, should they require my presence."
Poterol looks at Natanja, startled for a moment.
Then, he throws his head back and laughs, "Truth! Very true cousin. As Lore guides, and Merry flies, truth."
He settles deeper into his saddle and smiles silently for a time.
Natanja's copper brow lifted upon hearing Poterol's laughter. It was the first time she had witnessed his mirth since meeting him. It was a pleasant surprise.
She laughed in reply -- golden-amber eyes' shining.
Shyness runs after Lesith, catching up with her after a few moments. She marvels at Eli's gift, the lack of exhaustion after using her power is exhilarating. Shyness lopes alongside the haloed woman, touching her leg briefly to get Lesith's attention.
"Little Sister, a moment, if you will. I am not accustomed to large groups, and am no strategist. You may be right that it is better to make haste. I will say that Brother Eli wishes for you to be well, and for us all to be together. If you choose not to turn back, may I accompany you?"
Shyness continues beside Lesith patiently.
Lesith gets startled at the appearance of Shyness running faster than her horse can hustle. She stops her mount.
"God you are fast! I fear I am not as fast as I expected, and I am unable to press on the horse, for fear of hurting him. Yes, It will be better for us to march together, but as fast as we are able, please. I fear for the people in Endurant!"
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Lesith gets startled at the appearance of Shyness running faster than her horse can hustle. She stops her mount.
"God you are fast! I fear I am not as fast as I expected, and I am unable to press on the horse, for fear of hurting him. Yes, It will be better for us to march together, but as fast as we are able, please. I fear for the people in Endurant!"
"We will return and encourage the others to make haste."
Azmaria seemed concerned over the Imp's presence. more-so over thier continued presence after being killed.
she mounts up on her mule. we should press on then? I will have to make a report back to the Order on our findings once I learn more. I am afraid that I alone do not have the tools or resourses to set up a containment barrier around the town if that is what is needed.
"We must have faith in God, my cousin, and help in whatever way we can."
You are all reunited on the road and you hurry on your way to Endurant together.
Lesith keeps an eye open, now that she knows there are enemies afoot.
Being ambushed once was plenty - Marius gladly offers to ride near the front of the pack, keeping his eyes open for trouble.
Rex follows at his side, glad that he didn't have to follow Shyness particularly far. Despite the wolf's surprisingly soft demeanor, he did not like to be too far from his pack's leader.
"...a man who apparently entreated with these spirits of foul tempers and filthy mouths. They were here to stop us, because we were, to paraphrase, nasty 'nasty good scum', and, more importantly, 'no one gets through' because 'no one is supposed to know yet."
Kaya drifts up to the group having a discussion around Eli. "If this wicked man has a secret he means to keep from us, we had better make sure we find out what it is!" She says in good humor.
After that, she would have drifted high up into the air, to about one hundred feet up, and takes a look at what she can in the distance in all directions.
She later would descend and share anything she saw with the group, and join Arabeth and Cernan in discussing the nature of fiends. "I am concerned that few of our attacks seemed to affect them...."
***************
Kaya shall join those riding toward the front acting as eyes for the party of kin.
"It's all about the alchemy, Kayahide. I never thought I'd have to fight a fiend, but if we're going to, we'll need special weapons. Silver. Cold Iron. Holy water. I can mix some alchemical oils that will help in short combats, but we should really see what we can commission when we get a chance to rest or shop."
Chap rides along and examines and studies the bodies of the imps.
Vincent will go towards Endyrant with the others. When Eli brings up the "buddy system", he simply shrugs at the thought of going with someone. The only other cousin he has even talked to is Azmaria.
I will go wherever the mood strikes me, I just won't go alone...fair enough?
I will go wherever the mood strikes me, I just won't go alone...fair enough?
Aye, I second Vincent's motto. Lest two unlucky individuals get stuck with someone like me as a responsibility.
"If you want to be immature about this while invisible devils seek our deaths, I suppose that is your choice. Some of us, however, are professionals, not thugs, and would prefer to avoid unnecessary risk. And I've heard that family is supposed to stick together."
"If you want to be immature about this while invisible devils seek our deaths, I suppose that is your choice. Some of us, however, are professionals, not thugs, and would prefer to avoid unnecessary risk. And I've heard that family is supposed to stick together."
Family...FAMILY. You talk as if I ever had one. You don't know a damn thing about my life old man, until last night when I found out about all of this...my life had no real family. The streets, gutters, rats, impoverished were or ARE my family. I agreed to go with someone did I not. I simply do not feel super attached and "buddy buddy" like some others in our group. I agreed to help out..well whoever this lady in my dreams is because I feel I should. YOU, Cernan should think before you open your mouth. I am not a THUG, I never stole for profit, only to survive. The only time I killed another man was out of necessity...and I still think about that day to this day.
After voicing his opinion and feelings, he grabs his dagger and starts doing parlor tricks again, it calms him down and focuses his mind on other things. He keep one eye on his surrounding, the old man did bring up a good pint about invisible enemies and whatnot.
"How old do you think I look, Vincent? Because I guarantee you'd be off by quite a few decades. You're not the only orphan here; you're just the one who's had the least amount of time to make a name for yourself and learn how to survive."
"And maybe you never knew your family, but as far as we've been told, you do now. And I must say, you're still being quite a bit more pleasant than any of the rats I've met."
Marius turns on his saddle to peer at the bickering duo. "Maybe we could make a little more noise. Just in case that imp didn't get a chance to warn everyone."
He gives a half-hearted laugh, hoping to make it evident he's joking, not choosing sides. He's pretty sure all he did was make it more awkward. Even Rex looks embarrassed for him. "But Cernan's got a point, Vincent. I haven't had any family to speak of for years, either. It's been just me and Rex for just about as long as I care to recall now. From what I can tell, most of us share similar tales. No one's asking you to give up your past and join the happy time club, but we're stuck in this together, whether we like it or not. Shouldn't we at least play it smart, even if we don't enjoy the company?"
Marius pauses, then adds in a lower volume with a cautious monotone straight out of Eli's book, "Besides, we've already had one of our number depart. If you trust us so little, then you are welcome to join him." Was that too blunt? Perhaps - but Marius knew enough about the hunt to know the dangers of traveling alone or unwary. Like Lesith's pacifism, Vincent's stubbornly enforced solitude would also be tested. Marius wasn't sure he wanted to stick around for the results of either.
Azmaria was riding along half listening and half in her own thoughts.
Riding up alongside Vincent The only family I ever had was at the monastary for the Holy order. we looked out for each othe, and we comforted each other when things looked bleak. and believe me, things looked bleak lots of times when battling the demons of hell is a daily occurance. When all of this is over, If you want, you can come back to york with me, we have room at the Monastary, at least you will have place you can call home from now on.
She smiles a heart warming smile provideing reassurance that her offer is sincere. besides, I am sure many of the sisters wouldn't mind a cute boy staying in the monastary.
CS Game Post 7 - Approaching Endurant
After healing up from the surprise attack and collecting three imp corpses into Chap's pack, you continue to ride together toward Endurant.
Only about a half-hour down the road, however, Lesith notices an acrid stench coming from somewhere up ahead, wrinkles her nose, and mentions it to the group. At first it is presumed to be the imp corpses in Chap's pack, but Natanja, Shyness, Kaya, and Marius soon smell it, too.
As the smell grows more obvious, Shyness, Natanja and Marius notice that the dirt road in this area is particularly scuffed up, and it looks like something has been dragged into the thick underbrush nearby.
Marius, Natanja, and Shyness follow the none-too-subtle trail off the path for only about 100 feet, and soon discover the gruesome source of the stench... five humanoid bodies, clearly wounded, piled on the ground by a small cart carrying large bolts of cloth, and other supplies. Two of the bodies, men, wear bloodstained leather armor, while three wear comparatively fine clothing, now ripped, dirtied, and blood-stained. The nicely dressed bodies include a middle-aged man, a middle-aged woman, and a teenage boy. You're not sure what happened to the horse or other animal that used to be harnessed to the cart. A few carrion birds pick at the people's bodies, although they startle and fly off when your group approaches.
If you examine the bodies,
If you examine the cart,
If you use either of the following,
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Cernan's seen plenty of dead bodies in his time, and isn't afraid to go look them over. "Damn shame," he says, shaking his head .
"Merchants. Family, plus guards. Middle class. Killed recently," Cernan announces, looking the bodies over but failing to notice much else.
Using his masterwork scribe's tools, he sketches what he can of the family's faces, in case it becomes necessary to ask about them in town.
Eli carefully searches them, seeking any hint, clue, or sign of how they died, if anything is left of the attackers, or how long they've been dead.
Eli picks up two very fine short swords, and a bulging money pouch.
He removes the signet ring from the man's hand, and gives it to Cernan. "To assist in identifying them to town. The money can go to any surviving family." he explains, flatly.
He picks up a piece of paper clutched in the woman's hand.
"We should use this cart." he says, hooking his donkey up to it in order to pull the thing, and, possibly the bodies.
"Does anyone know their funerary customs." he... asks?
Shortly after descending from her levitation, Kaya would have mentioned to the others, "There seems to be a lingering fog in Endurant's direction. Though since it is rather late for that, I suspect it may be something else entirely..."
"It's all about the alchemy, Kayahide. I never thought I'd have to fight a fiend, but if we're going to, we'll need special weapons. Silver. Cold Iron. Holy water. I can mix some alchemical oils that will help in short combats, but we should really see what we can commission when we get a chance to rest or shop."
"That is very interesting Cernan. I am impressed with your knowledge of creatures from other worlds! Would your oils work on a person's hands or feet?"
Marius frowns, hopping down from his mount and joining the others in examining the bodies. Rex paces around, alert for any returning dangers.
He turns over the young boy, and sees injuries that could only have come from more imps. "Damn," mutters Marius, "These folks were killed by imps. Impossible to tell if it was the same band that ambushed us - but I'd certainly imagine so. They couldn't have been here for more than a day or two..."
Setting the boy back down, Marius gently closes the lad's eyes and puts him into as restful a position as he can. Eyes closed, he steps away from the grim scene.
He pauses, half expecting something to attack after the outburst. "If only we'd come a day earlier... We need to get to Endurant. This doesn't bode well at all."
Poterol sadly at the corpses. "I would have called this brigands, Marius, if they had taken anything. I trust you are correct, however, with our own troubles."
"I would like to take the time to put their bodies to rest, if we think we can spare it."
Seeing/Finding dead bodies was not uncommon for Natanja, although the body of the youth made her heart catch a little, but she shook the feeling away. Natanja dismounted her mule and with Oko still perched on her shoulder, moved (with some of the others) to examine the bodies.
She then cast detect magic.
"I concur with Marius on what killed them and how long they've been dead. Look here, these wounds appear to have been made by the imp stingers. And I cannot detect any magical auras at present."
When Poterol mentioned laying the bodies to rest, Natanja looked about the group and waited for confirmation on available time.
"If the others say there is time, I will help you, Poterol. It'll make quicker work of it."
"Ordinarily, I would suggest that we split up and head into the town while you perform last rites here, but I think the scene in question presents good evidence that this is not a safe place to split up."
Arabeth listens intently to Cernan at Kaya's questioning and such as they travel.
Upon being brought to the scene of the resent devastation Arabeth remains seated upon her horse looking at the scene and listening, possibly some what distractedly, to people's conversations. When talk moves around to burying she stirs
"Nay, we should not leave them interred here. They died before we were attacked, indicating that the Imps hunting was spreading out, possibly from the town. We should harness the wagon with the horses or mules and return these people to a finer rest within the confines of the town. Perhaps it is even where they might have been traveling... or fleeing... from." She says, almost declaring, her intents and wishes now shining forth.
She lowers her hand to the hilt of the fine sword at her hip, making sure it is free to clear its scabbard.
Eli would call those with Hosres over.
"I need to speak with you. Lesith is correct on one thing: she is an excellent potential long-range scout. Horses do that well. While a Shyness - or I at my peak - could outrun your mounts in the short term, at least with you in them, the two of you can, over-all, easily out range anyone else here. And I need you to be ready to do so. It is incidental, perhaps, but fortuitous that the two of you, Aeryth and Lesith, make for one of the more potent combinations: warrior and healer. When added to your mobility, it may well make for a very important facet of our abilities."
He looks at them steadily, voice entirely devoid of emotion behind a mask that displayed nothing. "It is quite posdible that we will all die, here. If it looks like we are in the process of doing so, I want the lot of you to mount up and ride as fast as you can, but together. I do not care what your proclivities are, whether you find a sacred duty to destroy wicked spirits, or how you feel about fleeing. A family and their guards were killed, dead. We could have been, but we're fortunately numerous and quite strong. If we are about to perish, only your long-term sustainable speed will be able to get the word back in time. Find new heroes: family or not; we will need our own spirits laid to rest, and to do that we need someone courageous enough to flee so that others may live. I will count on your ability and grace, and pray that it never comes to pass." he explains, emotionlessly. "Thank you, just in case, in potential advance."
Arabeth moves her horse closer to Eli and listens...
"Your words are indeed wise and... I accept your council." her hand clenches at the hilt of her sword.
"Also...should we not be able to take to our mounts?" And Arabeth now looks to her gathered companions, "I have another means of making good a tactical withdrawal...." Arabeth blushes slightly,
"Is that even the right term? Also, Those who stay must tell every one else that there is a greater plan." Arabeth sighs, "Though... of what consolation such is when faced with..." Her voice trails off and she does not finish her statement, even as her gaze returns to those already fallen.
Lesith, tears on her eyes, hears Eli.
"I'll have it in mind, but only as a last option."
She calls to the others.
"Let's put the bodies in the cart and tie a couple mules to it. We can bury them in Endurant. I just hope we don't find more corpses."
CS Game Post 7 - Approaching Endurant
After healing up from the surprise attack and collecting three imp corpses into Chap's pack, you continue to ride together toward Endurant.
Only about a half-hour down the road, however, Lesith notices an acrid stench coming from somewhere up ahead, wrinkles her nose, and mentions it to the group. At first it is presumed to be the imp corpses in Chap's pack, but Natanja, Shyness, Kaya, and Marius soon smell it, too.
As the smell grows more obvious, Shyness, Natanja and Marius notice that the dirt road in this area is particularly scuffed up, and it looks like something has been dragged into the thick underbrush nearby.
Marius, Natanja, and Shyness follow the none-too-subtle trail off the path for only about 100 feet, and soon discover the gruesome source of the stench... five humanoid bodies, clearly wounded, piled on the ground by a small cart carrying large bolts of cloth, and other supplies. Two of the bodies, men, wear bloodstained leather armor, while three wear comparatively fine clothing, now ripped, dirtied, and blood-stained. The nicely dressed bodies include a middle-aged man, a middle-aged woman, and a teenage boy. You're not sure what happened to the horse or other animal that used to be harnessed to the cart. A few carrion birds pick at the people's bodies, although they startle and fly off when your group approaches.
Vincent wonders what they are smelling, but goes along anyways. He sees the bodies, and immediately turns away. He has seen death, and blood, but nothing like the carnage set before him at this moment in time.
After collecting himself, he walks over to the deceased and looks at the people. He looks them over, but they don't draw any thoughts about being important.
[b]They were traveling merchants, but don't seem to be anybody of specific importance. Perhaps the cursed devil were the cause of this
Also, Cernan, I appreciate your in-character way of helping the party not split up. Thanks! :)
However, bringing them to any nearby family so that the family could give them proper burial would also be a considerate thing to do.
If neither immediate burial nor carrying the bodies along is judged to be prudent, then burning them to avoid their being further desecrated by carrion would be generally considered a respectful, if not ideal, alternative, especially if accompanied by prayers of peaceful rest for their souls.
Chap dismounts and helps move the bodies to the cart. She watches Eli Aeryth, and Lesith.
Kiwyn had wanted nothing to do with the bodies of the tiny fiends, and at the moment could not conceive why the others would want to keep them. The thought of wearing their skin, even for protection made her stomach turn. Once they were in Chap’s back felt a little better and noticed the state of Eli’s shirt.
Moving to stand beside him she made a kind of sweeping motion with her hand as she spoke in an arcanic tone. In the span of a few syllables from her the blood, dirt, and anything else for that matter, on the Eli’s shirt vanished. The shirt now left as clean as the day it was purchased. She smiles up at him before stepping over to do the same for Chap.
Looking around it did not seem as if anyone else need cleaning up so she turned her attention to the blood from her own injury.
*****
Moving again as a group Lesith signals them from ahead. A horrible smell begins to creep into her nose and Kiwyn covers her nose.
”What is that?” She wonders aloud before the gruesome scene is laid out to them.
The hand covering her nose slips down to cove her mouth, hanging open from what she sees.
”Who, or what, could have done this?”
The little archaist slips off the back of the horse she was sharing.
Kaya’s observation of a lingering fog concerns Kiwyn. She takes s moment to recite a short prayer for the dead in her native Tien before turning her attention back to the group.
Some of the others seemed to be speaking over by the cart but she didn’t quite catch it. It seems obvious the intent is to take the bodies elsewhere so she does what she can to help.
"Arabeth, should you have a more secure and speedy method, and it sounds prudent to use, you should do so." he explains, in an even monotone.
"Lesith, indeed it is a last resort. But the last resort is also important to plan for. None of us desire death, I think, and those few who do shall hopefully learn otherwise. In the end, however, death is a part of life - I do not fear it, if I am doing what I think best when it occurs." Eli states without emotion. "Have no fear, cousin, as your grace and inner light may save us all, yet."
To the group, Eli states, "Ellen is the name of the woman. This must be her husband and children. They were coming to see their sister Rose, to sell clothing, as Rose does not consider anyone stylish in Endurant, and believed they may be able to make a profit. They were, like us, merely traveling to Endurant, seeking nothing in particular. We should return their bodies and goods to their family, if possible, to pay for their burial if nothing else."
Eli delivers the news in an emotionless tone, lacking any sort of cadence, and devoid of any passion or other tells, his face covered by an expressionless mask.
"Doubtful, Kaya. I would think dipping your hands in liquid silver could be quite unhealthy. Better to acquire a punching knife or silver gauntlet when you have the time."
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After discovering the tracks, Shyness comes back to the group and approaches Eli. "Brother Eli, there are tracks of a mule or horse that escaped. It may be nothing, but one may have escaped. Brother Marius and his packmate should accompany me to track." She says it with both certainty and deference.
"Very well, Sister. If you believe that is a good idea, it seems fine to me." Eli replies to Shyness.