Lionel Dauphin |
Lionel shrugs at Emil's worries.
"We should really take everything with at least a little bit of worry as we are all lost sheep, anyone can say anything and we have no real way to confirm it just by thinking about it. Though the concern is noted."
Lionel gets up and dusts himself off as he sees Aphrodite and Drett walk back in. He thought it more polite to talk to the sheriff standing up then lying on his companion during the conversation.
TarkXT |
"Maybe." The sheriff says in response to Aliwah's question leaving the implied threat in the air to stink up the room. Pulling up a seat he places himself with his back to the wall and with a grunt as he spots Vladimirs sack he looks back towards you.
"So, I heard what Vladimir has to say crazy bastard that he is. You care to explain how you ended up on that shore?"
Lionel Dauphin |
"Well, we don't actually know. We all woke up there on the beach without any cloths or any recollection of what happened. I know that doesn't help you much but that's about all we know. We woke up there, with at least the memory of how to talk and what we think our names are. Furthermore we don't have any recollection of who we were beforehand, so we don't even have memories of childhood." Lionel replies with a hint of sadness in his voice.
TarkXT |
The sheriff adjusts in his chair slightly. "So you don't know how you ended up there? And you don't know who you are? Do you know where you are? Did you know any of those unfortunates who did not make it to shore alive? In fact how do you know that you came from the sea if you have no recollection of what happened beforehand?"
Lionel Dauphin |
"Honestly, I don't know we came from the sea. I never said we did, just that we woke up on the beach. We could have fallen from the sky for all I know. As for where we are, Strogonuv, but that's because Vladmir told us. Unfortunately, to your first two question, I don't know how we ended up here or who I am, aside from what I presume my name is. I could be wrong in that too."
Drett |
"Ahem ..." Drett steps away from the door and speaks as much to his comrades as to the sheriff: "I, remember being in salted rough water. Struggling to catch my breath. And ... ", he pauses slightly, looks to the sheriff ... "Then I woke up on the beach."
He almost spoke about the clawed hands, the unknown substance around him and about being thrown into water, but this seems so strange that he decides to say no more to the sheriff right now.
"That's all I remember."
Sense Motive 14:
Aliwah |
Sense Motive: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (17) - 2 = 15
Aliwah smiles warmly at the sheriff whenever he glances her way, but her smile is pure fakery: something in the man's cold eyes chills her to silence.
Bluff: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
She nods along with the others' stories, mumbling a quiet: "That's the truth of it."
Lionel Dauphin |
So that splashing around might have not been a dream after all, that might merit further investigation later.
"No sir, well I remember being companions to this here wolf." Lionel scratches Mint's head. "Though I don't have recollections of our friendship just that we were companions. I wish we had more memories because I feel at the moment as a bit of husk, but I'm willing to change that."
Lionel ponders for a moment, feeling a bit brave he continues.
"Tell me sheriff, is there anything we could do around here? It might jog our memory a little, I know our bodies are very stiff at the moment and it might be a day or two before we can be 'working' bodies again but a little bit of help to the people that saved us shouldn't be too unwelcome I might think. Any ideas sheriff?" He ends with a happy smile.
Drett |
[...]Aliwah smiles warmly at the sheriff [...]
Bluff: 1d20+7 = 23
When Drett, on an impulse, talks again to the sheriff, he seems annoyed and his tone is more aggressive than it should be: "We just told you! We don't remember a darn thing before the water and the beach! So, please, stop asking." but he calms down quickly before continuing: "Sorry. This is difficult for us. Lionel, here, is right though. If we can do anything to help ..."
TarkXT |
The sheriff pinches the bridge of his nose clearly not happy with the answers he's receiving.
After a moment of uncomfortable silence the sheriff nods his head. "Right, let's go down to the beach and see if anything or anyone there jogs your memory. After that we'll discuss what to do with you. Sounds good?"
TarkXT |
Going to the beach down the same path you went you leave Vladimir's sons behind and travel down the hilly, rocky, slope towards the beach where the smell of burning flesh starts to tickle your nostrils. As you get closer you see other people, doxens of them, picking through the beach and dragging the corpses into various piles, several are in the water itself risking sharkbites and worse to drag bodies from the surf to join the macabre piles away from the floodline. Most of the men appear dressed much like vladimir, with dirty heavily patched coats and tunics with pants, among them are women dressed simply and plainly in various work dresses helping the men drag the bodies into piles and in some cases going so far as to cross the arms and close the eyes of the drowned.
As you look up and down the beach several of the piles of bodies have dry driftwood piled underneath and have been set aflame. As you watch you see a crimson and white robed man with a long gray beard and a wide brimmed brown hat reading from a book before a set of bodies as if giving a sermon to the dead. As he finishes he nods to a pair of men who pour a yellow viscous oil on the pile and set it aflame.
Nothing here seems to jog your memory and the sea, despite it's ever present roar, does not seem inclined to give away its secrets.
Drett |
Drett stares at the piles of burning bodies. If he had known any of them ... it is too late now.
Still looking at the funeral pyres, he cross his arms and shudders as if feeling the flames. Seeing the number of dead on the sand, they are indeed lucky to be alive.
He then looks at the beach and the surrounding land but no memory comes. He still kind of remember being thrown overboard by clawed hands and being wrapped in some strange material, but the coast itself brings no more images. He should have lost consciousness well before being cast on the sand by the waves.
Drett still keeps to himself what he remember about the clawed hands and the strange substance. He already spoke about that to his fellow castaways but they did not seem to have the same memory. Could it be his imagination ? He sure won't be the first to say anything about that to the sheriff.
Aliwah |
Aliwah walks forward, padding through the sand towards the roaring blaze. The stench of burning flesh makes her want to gag, so she clasps a hand across her face. The warmth of the fire melts the cold from her bones. I don't remember being this warm before. It is...nice.
She steps around the fire, towards the robed man. "What'd you say to them?" she asks, curiousity stark upon her face.
Lionel Dauphin |
Lionel seems visibly frustrated with not being able to remember much of what is going on despite seeing all the bodies, recognising none of them and being in a clearer state than the day before. Mint sees his distress and nuzzles his hand holding a stick in her mouth, while walking along Lionel plays fetch with Mint trying to take his mind of his the frustrations.
Drett |
Those must be peoples from the village.
"Did they find anything ? Excepted bodies."
Drett took a deep breath and turns to Aggripa Ivanson: "Sheriff, you've asked us many questions. Now tell me : do *you* have any idea of what happened here ? Any idea about where we came from. Or who we are ?"
Aphrodite |
"Well worth a try."
Aphrodite thought to herself, hoping to find answer to who she is by coming back to the beach. A sudden chill fills her, however not even she is sure whether it's the breeze in the air, or the thought that she could be one of the body being burn over there.
She then turns her attention to the Sheriff as Drett ask him several questions that may or may not have an answer.
TarkXT |
"Nope." The sheriff says in a single all encompassing answer to all of Dretts questions.
As Aliwah approaches the red robaed man he gasps and makes a gesture on his chest as she approaches. When she asks her question he stammers. "I..I pray to the venerates to grant them guidance as they pass on to paradise and to evade temptaion lest they pass eternally to damnation through the icy gates!" The man holds his book protectively in front of him. Clearly something about Aliwah unnerves him.
Lionel Dauphin |
Lionel looks on not caring for the scene. As far as he could tell he didn't care for religion much, there was something in him telling him to stay away he wasn't sure though. Lionel did look at the priest and Aliwah, he was interested to see what came of the situation but was more likely to jump to Aliwah's defence if she needed it.
Drett |
"Nope."
"Drat ! That's a concise answer !"
Drett looks suspiciously at the Sheriff trying to see if he could know more than he says.
Sense Motive: 1d20 +1(Wis) ⇒ 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
TarkXT |
The priest rallies admirably in the face of Emil's eagerness. While Aliwah stares he speaks firmly with the confidence and assurance of a man who is used to speaking before an eager clergy.
"You do not know of the venerates my son? They are the servants, the eyes, the ears, and at times even the voice of God. The Sanguine lord's duties to the cosmos is far too great and important to be disturbed by the simple troubles us mortals. And so he sends his venerates to watch and care for his great flock. Many of the covenant serve one or more of the venerates while giving respect and prayer to the rest at proper times. I serve Svarog the venerate of smiths and builders. But, um," The priest scratches the back of his head nervously. "He doesn't quite have rites for this occasion so I'm reading from some of Koliav's rites, but, well they aren't particularly pleasant. I didn't even know w had prayers for mass pyres until today."
@Drett: The sheriff is stony faced as ever. If he knows anything he betrays nothing.
Drett |
Drett watches the Sheriff thoughtfully for a moment then grumbles something and looks back to the beach.
Does Drett feel strong enough to help carry the corpse ? Well, he will try ...
Drett is not used to stay idle and watch other people working. He nears the water, hesitate, apprehensiveness visible on his face, and eventually renounce to enter the waves. Instead, he select a corpse already on the beach and try to move it to a nearby pile.
TarkXT |
Waiting on the rest.
With effort Drett manages to start dragging the corpses of some very small people to the pyre's. This illicits some whispers from the villagers but otherwise they make no comment or attempt at conversation. The atmosphere is very morbid and there is this sense that silence, rather than speculation, is called for.
Emil Torquemada |
Koliav...yes... Emil's eyes appear to loose focus, searching something lost to normal sight. The Keeper of the Icy Gates is always ready to guide his flock to the beyond. Always ready...and awaiting.
Emil look at the pile of corpses, after a second of contemplation the words just seem to flow out of his mouth.
Sanguine Lord, our Father,
Your power brings us to birth,
Your providence guides our lives,
and by Your command we return to dust.
Come to our rescue,
O Venerates; run out to meet them, angels of the Lord.
Welcome their souls.
Lead them into the presence of our Most High Sanguine Lord.
May He, who called you, receive you.
May the Venerates lead you and guide you.
Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord;
and let perpetual light shine upon the worthy.
And the ice gates open for those who are not.
Deliver their souls, O Sanguine Lord.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of the venerates, rest in peace.
Emil Torquemada |
With his gaze still locked at the pile of lifeless bodies Emil wisper an answer.
Yes they are.
Its the third Canticle for the Departed from the teachings of the most venerate Koliav, the Keeper of the Icy Gates.
After a couple of seconds he rest his hand on top of Aliwah's and give it a small squeeze while looking at her with a shy smile.
Thank you.
Drett |
When hearing Emil's orison, Drett stops dragging the corpse of a young man. He waits for the prayer to finish, staring blandly to the pyres. Then, he resume his task, pulling the dead body to a nearby pile.
The sadness of the situation affects his mood. He looks the pile of corpses while a women closes the eyes of the young man.
"So many of them. Who are they ? And who are we ? Where are our memories ? This man could be my best friend or my brother, for all I know; and that woman could be my sister ... or my wife. I don't even know if I am married ! Do I have any children ? How could I know ?"
"That's no accident ! Someone stoled our memories. Someone tried to killed us. Someone killed all those unfortunates people. If we are to find our old families and friends, if we want to avenge all those deaths, we must find what happened here and who has done this. I must talk with the others. We must tell each other everything we remember. We must find some clue to track those murderers."
"But, first, do what must be done here."
Drett, goes to fetch wood for the funeral pyres.
Lionel Dauphin |
This is all rather morbid, wish I had something to say to cheer up the mood. I really don't though. Nor does this talk of religion really spark anything in my head. Memories, oh memories how you would make my life much simpler at the moment.
Lionel stands with the sheriff waiting for the others.
He then asks meekly "Sheriff, I know you don't know what happened to us, or particularly care in some respects. What is your opinion on all this?"
TarkXT |
The priest looks even more uncomfortable between the apparent devotee of Koliav and the Gevet both staring at him. "Ah, yes, I see, one of the devoted are you? I imagine you've seen a lot of death in your time. Tell me what part of the protectorate do you hail from?"
To Lionel:
The sheriff sighs and pulls a pipe from his pocket absentmindedly filling it with tobbacco. "Shipwreck maybe, blow to yer head or chock might be memory loss. As to why you are all naked when you washed up I don't know. I do know this." With this he points the end of his pipe as if it were a deadly weapon. "Here, there's peace, it may be born of poverty but its peace and that's a rare thing in this world. Rare indeed. You disturb it, or if I find out you know more about this than you're telling me than I will come down on you so hard and fast the judge will be putting in the verdict as you start swinging, you understand?"
Emil Torquemada |
A devoted... Emil reflects a moment. Yes, I belive I am. before answering the castaway looks back at the beach.
I do not know father, I do not know. You see, I was one of the bodies that washed away in this beach earlier. My head does not feel right, I do not remember anything. he says with sadness.
But I would like to help you with your duties here today with you would have me.
Drett |
Drett continues to drag bodies and gather woods until he is too exhausted to continue. Then he follows Emil and stay silently by his side while he helps the local priest. He seems really moved by the preaches and the sadness of the moment.
Then he goes back to Lionel and the Sheriff and speaks to Lionel "We must decide what we will do now."
Drett |
Drett talks to is comrades: "We will need coins. Sure. But we are strangers here. And that good sheriff is not fond of us being around. Probably fears that we can trouble the order. Sheriffs tend to be like that. I hope we will be fine in no time so that we could leave and try to find who we are and what happened. Even if I don't know where to go. But right now I'm still a little stiff." Drett tries to stretch his back and groans with pain. "Well, I'm exhausted in fact. I, sure, could use another night of rest."
He turns to Vladimir: "Vladimir, we already owe you much for your help. Could you put us up for another night? And if we can do anything to help, just tell us."
Aliwah |
"I like the sound of coins," Aliwah says, stepping over to add her voice to the conversation. "But I don't know much we can do to get them. Perhaps if we ask for aid, they'll help us get to someplace bigger - where there might be more work around."
She leans in to whisper to Drett and Lionel: "They might take to the idea of helping us along - would mean we'd be away form them and not their trouble any more."
Lionel Dauphin |
He whispers back to Aliwah: "That would do it I suppose. Though before we leave ourselves high and dry we should probably find out a bit more about the region and possibly where to go. I would like to work for coin yes but if we have no idea where to work for coin, well, we are causing even more problems for ourselves."