"Surely they should have been down by now, right?" he looks over at Freddy and Venny, "Ya think everything's goin' okay up there?"
Hearing Bear's comment as they finally crawl out of the high entry bearing several bundles and pieces of armor, UU quips, "Aw, did you miss us? Cheer up! We're here. We got rent money and some shineys for selling or wearing. We've also got four fellows here in need of burial. Looks like we are all going to be in the grave-digging business for a bit of time."
Bear does his best to mask his obvious relief, "So, we go diggin', huh? Might as well get to it." He'll offer to take some of the bones, and take up his usual position at the rear of the party as they head out.
"We got enough candles or torches for another trip in? Or do we need to go ahead and make a stop in town while we're away?"
"I'd prefer not to stop in town any more than necessary. We probably have drawn enough attention as it is, Bear. I think we have enough candles, anyway."
So, with bags of bones in tow, you return to the entrance of the Whispering Cairn. The usual whispering is there again as you gather up Venedictus's donkey and then return to the outside world. It's overcast, and a cold drizzle of rain is falling.
You trudge over the hills, getting rather damp in the process, and eventually reach a copse of large trees shading a small, quiet clearing. Crumbling walls and a seemingly abandoned farmhouse stand vigil atop a small bluff overlooking the clearing, the sad ruins of what must have once been Alastor's home. Five grave markers stand in the clearing, each with a different name: Anders, Bemissa, Coldaran, Gertia, and Alastor. Open pits yawn from before all five headstones. Each headstone also has a four-petaled flower motif on it. Piles of fresh dirt and a pair of abandoned shovels suggest that the excavation took place recently, certainly within the week.
Fredrik noting the mark on the gravestones, says, "This looks like a plague symbol, if I remember correctly, there was an outbreak of plague in this region about twenty years ago."
He looks at the disturbed graves, and says, "As for why they have been disturbed now...I have no idea."
Venedictus takes a quick peek into the pits to confirm that the bodies have been removed. His face screws up in rage. "This is terrible! There would be no reason to take these remains other than nefarious necromantic purposes. It doesn't look like the inhabitants of this farm were exactly rolling in gold teeth or other material treasures to be buried with! How is poor Alastor supposed to find any peace in the next life if his family isn't here with him!?"
"I guess it would be cruel to file that under 'not our problem', huh?"
Your description said "sad ruins that was his home"... is that to mean there's nothing remaining? or is there smething worth searching? If there is... 1d20 ⇒ 4.
"I guess it would be cruel to file that under 'not our problem', huh?"
Your description said "sad ruins that was his home"... is that to mean there's nothing remaining? or is there smething worth searching? If there is... 1d20.
While there doesn't seem to be a lot left of the home, there's certainly enough to search. You just have to head up the bluff.
"Well his family's remains may have been taken, it is likely their spirits are free. If so, Alastor will be able to join them. As for whomever violated these graves... I agree with you Vene, they have to be found. However, first things first."
UU feels obligated to fulfill her promise so she will bury Alastor in his grave, hopefully setting his spirit at rest. If his grave has also been excavated, she will attempt to bury him below the excavated part and make it look like the grave is empty to prevent any additional desecration of his body.
While she is digging, UU says, "What I don't get is why there is a grave marker for Alastor at all especially with a plague symbol. He told us he didn't die here, with them."
Alastor's grave has been dug up as well, although obviously whoever did it didn't find anything in that one. It's easy enough to dig further down and bury Alastor's bones, cover them up, and then leave the grave looking much like the way you found it.
There's only room in the grave for one person to dig at a time.
While she is digging, UU says, "What I don't get is why there is a grave marker for Alastor at all especially with a plague symbol. He told us he didn't die here, with them."
Udaya Udas wrote:
While she is digging, UU says, "What I don't get is why there is a grave marker for Alastor at all especially with a plague symbol. He told us he didn't die here, with them."
"Yeah, you are right Udaya, he did mention something about that. It could be this is not his grave, and maybe the gravestone was altered somehow?" He looks at her intently, "I know little of possession, but you said before he was telling the truth, correct?" He shrugs, "He may have fled the family to avoid cathching the plague, or possibly to keep his family from catching it, a futile gesture, it looks like."
Edited post to reflect updated Info
Looking closely at the grave marker, he sees something of note. "Ok I see now, this grave was done in advance, see there is no death year indicated on the marker."
As well as the names on the graves, there are also birth and death years. Alastor's, however, only lists his birth year (4663). Presumably, the grave site for the entire family was prepared in advance.
The other dates are: Anders Land: 4642-4675; Bemissa Land: 4645-4687; Coldaran Land: 4661-4687; Gertia Land: 4674-4687.
It seems kind of sacrilegious to do the same hide/burial routine using the plots belonging to his other family members... particularly if they manage to recover the bodies at some point. So UU will bite the bullet and find a spot away from the family plot, hopefully relatively hidden, and dig a long grave and put the remains in it but separated from one another... unless someone has a better idea?
It seems kind of sacrilegious to do the same hide/burial routine using the plots belonging to his other family members... particularly if they manage to recover the bodies at some point. So UU will bite the bullet and find a spot away from the family plot, hopefully relatively hidden, and dig a long grave and put the remains in it but separated from one another... unless someone has a better idea?
You find a decent plot of land and begin digging again. Since you're digging a larger fresh grave, there's room for others to help dig as well, if they wish. Alternatively, some may want to search for clues as to who dug up the other graves (hint, hint).
LOL! I was only saying what UU is doing. :) I left it to our other folks to do the clue hunting. Since Mike and Ben are going to be relatively unavailable this weekend... Let's assume that Dara is doing a general search assisted by Bear. He will detect magic if anything looks odds enough to warrant it. They will consult with our knowledge skill gents - Vene and Flash as needed, related to their particular areas of expertise. At a minimum they will search the graves, headstones, and the piles of displaced earth before proceeding to the remains of the house and the general vicinity looking for tracks, wheel marks, etc.
Dara and Bear are able to locate the tracks of a wheelbarrow leading up to and away from the graves in the direction of Baslwief. They also find the tracks of five booted humanoids who walked all around the graves. These tracks then head towards the farmstead. Four of them seem to have come back very quickly. The fifth did not.
After Dara and Bear inform the group of what they have found, Fredrik glances uneasily towards the farmstead. "I think whoever dug these graves up found something that is not friendly up there. I hate to say this, but if we are gonna find out who did this, then we need to go up there too."
Sorry, folks, the website did the thing again where it stopped telling me there were new posts. I guess Venedictus has just been so upset at the concept of corpse stealing that he's sat off to the side and fumed silently to himself.
Venedictus snaps out of his reverie to assist in looking for tracks. "My eyes aren't trained for this, but does anybody see anything distinctive in these tread marks that might help us identify a guilty party back in Baslwief?"
Unfortunately the tracks are all of fairly standard boot types, and the wheelbarrow tracks are also of a standard type used by virtually every mine in Baslwief.
Fredrik looks down at the tracks, noting the similarity to the tracks seen at practically every mine in Baslwief. "Damn, looks like we need to check further into this." He looks over at the ladies, "Lead on ladies, we will be right behind you."
Bear gives Udaya a salacious wink, "Yeah, don't worry, I'll be right behind you. Gotta make sure no one sneaks up behind you, ha ha!"
There are thick pools of dried blood and unidentifiable fleshy chunks littering the wooden floor and the fallen, rotting door. Dara can hear the faint sounds of laboured breathing somewhere further in. It doesn't sound like human breathing.
UU whispers, "Well, if its in the house, it ain't evil. I'm not picking up a damn thing... I'm thinking we wanna try to draw it out rather than go in after it."
UU unlimbers her bow and proceeds diagonally towards O16 hoping to catch sight of whatever is lurking. If she sees it, she'll take a shot.
Stealth1d20 + 0 ⇒ (8) + 0 = 8
Standard Action - Single shot (shortbow crit: 20/x3):
To Hit: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Rng Inc: 60'
Dara nods, tells the others to stay put for a bit and sneaks forward to K/L 14/15 to shield herself from view and get a closer look. Her blade is ready.
As Dara and Udaya move into position, they initially still can't see the creature, but it would seem to be behind the next wall. Unfortunately, it clearly hears you now as it lets out an angry roar like an angry bear. Then Dara sees a large and angry-looking owlbear round the wall. The owlbear has clearly been injured in a previous fight. It has several slash marks on it. The wounds have cauterized, but have not yet healed. It is clearly enraged. Udaya cannot yet see the owlbear from her current position (although) she can certainly hear it. The others can all see it.
"What the hells is that?" Bear curses as he looks for the most direct route to getting his blade into its hide.
With Shield already up (Thanks, Freddy), he'll look to charge if possible. If not, he'll simply close and attack. Since Freddy will have already gone, there shouldn't be an issue with Bear interfering with that casting. Either way, he'll use his swift action (as always) to make use of Arcane Strike. Arcane Strike 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25. DMG 2d4 + 7 ⇒ (1, 3) + 7 = 11.
Crit Confirm. 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17. DMG 2d4 + 7 + 11 ⇒ (2, 3) + 7 + 11 = 23 total damage if it confirms. (the charge bonus is not factored in... so if he can charge, add 2 to the confirmation roll.)
UU sprints to Q13 to get an unobstructed view of the beast and fires an arrow (poorly )at its back hoping to distract it from Dara. "Over HERE you hairy beast!"
FWIW - I was trying to put Dara outside the house so she could peek in. Sorry if I didn't make that clear. Play on!
Yeah, I was a bit unsure since you gave a range of squares, so I just sort of guessed. It doesn't make much of a difference since the owlbear would have seen her anyway and could reach her regardless and get a single attack.
You can't actually flank with a ranged weapon. However, it doesn't make a difference in this case, as it's a miss anyway.
Udaya's arrow flies over the owlbear and past Dara.
Venedictus scuttles up and strikes with his glaive. He cuts into the beast, but only with a minor cut, and enrages it even more.
Fredrik moves up and calls out. He prepares to cast his spell.
Realising she can't exit without leaving Vene open for attack, DARA holds her ground, rages, and attacks the beast. I think I know the rage (+4 STR which gives a +2 ATT/DAM - correct?) + power attack bonuses.
PS, don't forget about your +1 to attack from Venedictus' bless spell
A good reminder! So Dara's result becomes a 16 and Bear's critical confirm (with the charge) becomes a 20. It makes no difference to Udaya's earlier attack.
Dara swings and slices into the owlbear's shoulder, injuring it more, but it still fights on.
Bear then charges forward, Kalath raised. He brings the weapon down on top of the owlbear's head. There is the crack of bone as it cuts through the creature's skull. With a final muted roar, the beast collapses in a pool of its own blood. It's not quite dead, but it will die soon.
Venedictus looks at the little wound he had made, glances at his glaive blade, then looks at Bear pulling his sword out of the remains of the owlbear's head. He looks back at his little wound, back at the head remains.
"Remind me never to make you angry."
He then proceeds to look about for any identifiable remains of the grave robber.
