"there are plenty of herbalists here as we all know a little something, though some more than others, about plants. The majority of the herbs you will find from various herbalists in these parts would be medicinal based. Down the way a bit farther into the back side of town an older lady sells herbs from her little establishment."
A well made beef stew with carrots, onion, potatoes and a mix of spices are places in front of you when ready to eat. A nice pint-sized mug of ale and chunk of bread accompany the said stew.
The baths were as spoken, heading out the back door leads you to a broken up walled off area where a natural spring fills bug pools of water. The water runs clearing itself out and travels through a grate in the wall on the far side of the pools. From there it empties into what sounds like a stream. The ambience of trickling water fill the area, creating a blissful relaxing spot. Towels are layer out for use just before entering the bath and there are separating walls in a few spots for more privacy. All of which can enter a communal bath if chosen.
Raaf sees the scrappings of the large buck and his senses tighten. He grips his crossbow and begins to stalk silently. His heart pumps with a fury of a storm as he raises his weapon to shoot. His eyes narrowing on his prey. He gets a sour taste in his mouth though and lowers his crossbow a bit. Until now, Raaf has only ever killed to survive, to eat... this "sporting" hunt was intoxicating, but felt strangly hallow. "So this is how it felt... to him..." His body relaxed and without a second thought...
It was over...
Seemingly content with the answer after a moment of consideration, Akari asks, "So when is this festival and where do we sign up? Assuming we find an event we'd like to participate in?"
Lys will go to the herbalist and restock on her herbs and ingredients for her infusions and mutagens and inquires about how much some pouches of the aloe type mixture would cost.
Almost as if in extension of his earlier question, Akari would add.. "Aleria?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
Gabriel decides to take a walk around town while the rest do their bussiness.
"Akari, mind to accompany me? I believe we have a chat pending. One that will ease both our minds." says the warrior priest with a smile.
Once outside, the aasimar strolls at a slow pace, taking confort in the simple lifes and joy he sees around. If he sees any kind of temple, Gabe would look for a bench closeby and sit there.
"I can't judge you for what you did in the tower. Avdol was... unstable, at best. But it concerns me the eagerness to take those actions you showed." says Gabriel to his partner as he watches the townsfolk do their biddings "I... I suspected the truth behind Avdol's words. I can understand the lure of evil, specially when the alternative is pain and death. And I understand your attack on him was born from a sense of betrayed camaraderie and broken loyalty..." Gabe looks at his hands, as if struggling to find the words "But there are dark times coming. We've tasted them in the town. I've seen them in my dreams... and when those days come we need to be as morally strong as possible. If we take the easier path now, we'll be damned then. But if we take the higher route, if we demonstrate to ourselves and the Gods that we are not only worthy but exalted... we'll have nothing to fear, for we'll be backed by our minds, our souls and the Gods themselves."
Akari turns to nod to Gabriel and follows him out, apologizing to and thanking Cedric for his hospitality.
He would follow silently, letting Gabriel lead the conversation and eventually seats himself beside him.
"I rarely pretend. I'm no good at it. And I'll never pretend to know much when it comes to, well, much. My attack on Avdol was not borne from eagerness, as you say, but of preemptive action and resolve. A resolve that I had burned into myheart and mind when I lost everyone that I knew and loved in one fell swoop."
"I cannot say much about visions. I haven't truly wanted to believe much of what we've experienced. It was too bizarre, for me to believe any of it. I know what I have seen. I know what I have heard. I do not know how or why."
"I mean not to distract from your concerns, only to perhaps hear my convictions for myself. I can be out there, sometimes. But Avdol was insane, a constant risk. A risk I was no longer willing to keep taking when lives were on the line."
The festival begins tomorrow night at dusk. Between now and then, should you choose to participate in the festivities, each of the competitions cost to gold two enter and qualify for the overall prize. If you'd like to enter anytime between now and then let me know and I'll be more than happy to add you to the roster." Cedric appears more than happy to enlighten you of the town's customs and traditions, all the same he nods to Lysanthir as she leaves and gives a wave before returning his gaze to Akari. "...Aleria, she is a well known goddess to farmers, though religious folk alike usually have heard of her to say the least."
Njord is the embodiment of the uncaring changing seasons. He is prayed to not so much to bring good crops, but to be convinced to hold off the early frost or bring the spring thaw. He requires appeasement and devoted following, being known to test his followers' faithfulness and resolve when it suits him.
As both Gabriel and Akari leave, in like, Cedric waves and bids them temporary goodbye. Down the way a good one hundred feet from the tavern/Inn there are two separate, smaller churchs. One rests on each side of the road across from one another. Designs of a raining cloud partially obscuring a radiant sun on one and two meadowlarks, perched together in the silhouette of a heart decorate as a mural to the front doors. In order they resemble Njord and Aleria.
Raaf scans the area with his crossbow and steps into the clearing towards the stump.
"Who's there? Show yourself... I ain't one for theatrics."
He readies and attack with his crossbow if something attacks him.
|
|
Gabriels listens intently and nods "I am glad to hear you, Akari. I feared you were looking for pardon... even if there is nothing to forgive. Let's head to the inn, a good ale is in order!" he says with a smile.
Turning his head to the churches, the aasimar comments "Tomorrow I'll present my respects... today I am tired, I need a bath and I desire to relax for a couple hours."
"I think I'll go in." He motions to each of the churches. "I'll meet you later with an ale in hand. Do you happen to know to which deity each of these pray?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
"A visit to each won't hurt me. Tell the others I'll be back before sundown."
Akari will then go first into the Church marked by the rain cloud. The tempestous nature of a storm appealed to him, as did the power of the sun.
He would first look for anyone churchlike. A priest, or something similar. If none could be found he would simply ask anyone present.
"Greetings. I'm afraid I'm a stranger to these parts, and your gods are unknown to me. Who is your patron? And to who does the other church venerate?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Should you choose then to continue leaving the forest, you will recieve no further response from the voice. By the time you'd return to the village the sun would be setting over the horizon.
"yes child, come, look!" she'd point feverently at the crest sitting above the windows, on the front of the podium and behind the podium, a much bigger version of the crest, located on the door. "These symbols are the great God Njord. He is a God known for many things beyond my knowledge but worshipped mainly by farmers. Thanks to him and Aleria, our crops grow healthy strong and we are able to survive off the land in doing so. Across the road, as I'd mentioned the name before, Aleria the Goddess of gardeners, healers and lovers also gives us her blessings. "
He had heard this from their conversation with Cedric, but he listened politely. His eyes roamed the Church on occasion but not so much as to be rude.
He couldn't help shake the coincidence of meeting a woman who had gone by the name Aleria in the previous village. There had seemed to have been more to her, but, perhaps he was simply over thinking things.
"Njord, his symbol is the cloud-obscured sun. His powers are over the weather? What are his ideals, his tenets? Do either of them show themselves to their followers?"
He was struggling, he knew and suspected she could see that, to ask a question without causing offense. He wanted to know why these people would put their hopes and trust their prosperity to some God.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Now that the foundation to her overall answer hado been set she continues, "Njord requires devoted following, and he has more preference and control of making the seasons longer rather than controling the weather...
let me ask you dear boy, do you believe?"
"Sorry, I just half expected you would have something of importance to tell me after all of this." Raaf motions to the clearing and fog. "Dark times huh? Well let me tell you something oh 'omnipotent one.' My life has been nothing but dark times. It follows me like a plague. Unless of course you have something more specific and useful to add?"
Raaf grimaced as if getting a bad taste in his mouth. "I have no respect for any god or man unless they talk to me face to face. And I certainly have no respect for thoughs that believe they are above that, thinking that they stand above someone else, simply because they have more power or hold a higher station or are more intelligent. The most powerful god to the weakest mortal, we are all dust in the end. This proves that!" Raaf flicks his wrist and a iron holy symbol of Aroden appears in his hand. He stares at it and grips it tightly, causing his hand to shake.
"God's can die, just as we can, just as anything can. Meaning 'he' can die. I just need to get stronger." Raaf whispers, half to himself.
Raaf then puts the holy symbol back in his wrist sheath and begins to head back to town with his 'trophy'.
Lys takes 5 pouches of the herb mixture if they have that much, after that she returns to the inn to find a hot bath and sleep in a bed. She then copies the God visit potion into her formulae book. And continues contemplating the odd journal found in the tower. taking some ink she first leaves just a blob on a page towards the back and lets it sit there putting a touch of magical energy into it. If nothing happens she then writes in it "Who's journal is this?" in it concentrates on it for a bit and leaves it alone.
The answer fell short of what he had been looking for, but it may be his questions that were short, or wrong.
"If you mean do I worship, then the answer is no. Otherwise, I simply don't know what to believe." After a pause, he would add. "Its been a while since I've had any hope."
-Posted with Wayfinder
The blob of ink rests where you placed it, spreading only where necessary from the volume spilled. Stretching out naturally across the page at first it takes the shape unnaturally of a feather. Picking up your quill and writing your question there is a delay of a few minutes when just before you turn to abandon it for the night, cursive words begin appearing on the page.
. . .I have been nameless so long, lost in time and taken from memory. . . To whom do I owe the pleasure?
Raafe returns just before the sun fully sets over the horizon. Dragging quite a trophy behind him, villagers congratulate and some even follow him to the tavern/Inn staring in awe.
"Congratulations! Quite the buck you found!" Cedric exclaims as you'd approach noting he was standing outside.
Njord, I see the mutual benefit of your following, but this is not where I will find what I'm looking for. May your Grace keep these good people healthy and well, and their lands with them.
With the silent prayer, he bids Njord and any else who notice him farewell, on his way now to the Church of Aleria to possibly sate his curiosity. First taking a moment outside to examine her symbol more closely.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Raaf smiles at the townsfolk as he drags the deer to the tavern. Spitting out some chew before talking. "Aye Cedric, you weren't waiting for me were you?" Raaf hands him the sack that holds the heart and liver of the deer.
"You can have thoughs, the fresher they are the better, now do you have a meatpole? I wanna hang this guy and take a bath, long day."
"pfft,... not to hurt yer feelin's but sadly I was not. Come 'round back and I'll get ya set up." he points to the right of his business where an alleyway is gated off to both sides of a swinging door. As you walk past, pushing the door with ease, you see follow a pathway trodden down from the many footsteps before your own. As you reach the back side, the smell of other killed quarry fill the air. A small lean-to with an assortment of animals hang for drying beneath the lean-to a barrel of tanning salt and water as well.
"Nice little setup you got here." Raaf says as he hangs the deer to let the rest of the blood drain and meat to cure. He carves a small "R" in the left lower flank of the buck's leg.
"Alright, I better go get washed up, then get some food in me. See you inside."
Raaf proceeds to got to the springs and take a well deserved bath, gets some food in him and checks on his room.
Akari would similarly seek out any of Aleria's clergy, before asking anyone else. To whomever he should find, he says..
"I've only recently learned of your goddess on my travels. Could you tell me a little about her? Her history, or what is known?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
•She loves life and is typically worshipped by farmers, lovers and healers.
•She died as a young girl before rising as a Goddess.
Many of the villagers are out tending fields, hunting or working their craft in some way, so, many are busy for the time being.
Having satisfied his curiosities as best he could, he would look around the town a bit, checking out what was available for merchant wares and other trade goods before heading to meet Gabriel and the others.
You stand up unscathed but slightly shaken by what had just transpired. Eager to indulge on unknown information you begin checking doors. Most were locked while others where a mix of empty voids and mirrored hallways of the very one you walked. Soundless and colorless despite being well lit and infinite in both directions described this hallway. Eventually you come to a door slightly cracked open. Pressing in the thump of your heartbeat,... or,... a heartbeat... rung in your ears. Pressing the door open reveals a forest under a starry sky just before the Crack of dawn. The vast landscapes seemingly infinite in size showing distant mountains beyond the height of the trees. You step out into what is now noticeable as a clearing feeling the crunch of the untouched vegetation below your feet and the dew begins to soak from your knees down.
'creeeeeeeeek!'
For the first time since being wherever this was, your senses picked up sound, movement and touch. Turning quickly you watch the door behind you shut close. No doorway appeared on this side and instead you see the other side of the clearing. Above clouds pass revealing a bright moon giving light to your surroundings. Inhaling you can smell a sweet aroma, glancing down hundreds of blue rose bushes decorate the clearing. Shifting on your heel to turn and view the scenery and its entirety you notice a pair of powder blue eyes peering back at you lit up only from the moon. They blink in and out of sight a couple times before retreating further into the darkness that the forest provided. Sun began peaking over the treetops cascading across the land welcomed by the sound of chirping birds, and a feint smell of.... sulfur?
You reach down with enough time to grab a rose and pluck it from its bush. A piercing of thorn through your fingertip creates a soreness as beads of blood drip off and fall to the floor.
'snap!'
A twig snaps making your jerk suddenly to look only to slip from the dew and uneven footing. You fall back and just as you suspect you'd land on a rose bush you instead land on a soft bedding of sorts. It is dark where you are but you look about and make out you are in your room again laying on your bed. Catching your breath realizing it was all just a dream a chill makes its way from your lower portion. From the knees down you are soaked and on reaching out the soreness of a small wound pricks from your fingertip... looking to the small bedside table you see the journal is closed and a single blue rose rests upon it.
The party reconvene at dusk, as Gabe, Akari and Raaf make their ways back to the tavern at their individual paces and Lysanthir awakens. The smell of a fire burning in the fireplace downstairs dances into your nostrils on par with venison. The bar fills slowly but steadily as many of the townsfolk come to grab a drink after a hard days work, some applaud Raaf as he makes his appearance for his recent hunting trip.
"quite the buck!"
Among farmers, groups of weary road ridden travelers make their way to the local tavern. Festivities have began making way amoung the locals as they prepare for the Full Harvest the following evening. With such, the moon is full and bright overhead cascading across the frost stricken fields. Farmers had already begun chopping their crops and celebrations of summer's end are underway in the coming day.
Just outside of the tavern, some of the children are gathered around a slightly older young lady whom tells of a tale, entrapping the children in fear, anxiousness and laughter.
"Twas it night or was it eve,
That the hallow began,
Twas a night like no other,
Thy tale o' jack the scarecrow began.."
some of the younger children looked on in a playful fear, as the others applauded for more. Continuing the young woman began again...
"He remained on that post firmly beat into the soil,
Silently watching over the crops of the land,
Caw of the crow left poor old jacks blood to boil,
His sickles both armed one for each hand,
He had a smile both crooked and weary,
Haunted almost socket-less eyes made him eerie,
Less moving at all the wind at his back,
Yet also unleashing a fury"...
At this climax a man walks up and jump scares the children whom let out a loud high pitched scream as they try to run. Soon after they notice and give recognition that they know the man. The storytelling young girl gets up brushing off her dress and goes inside the inn as a brisk breeze of the night air swiftly nibbles at the nape of your necks.
Bout time to head home kids, curfew was a few moments ago, before the boogeymen get ya" The children put up a short lived pout and turn to head towards what you can assume are their respective homes.
Festivities of pre celebration last for a few hours into the night as the moon raises higher and higher. The crowd eventually thins out in turn asignal fog and the night's chill permeates through the town. Indistinguishable voices yell from a distance outside met with screams not of scares but utter dread and fear.
Finally a man asks, "did anyone see what happened?" and of the three townsfolk and those of you who've come to see no one answers out loud, but instead with a shake of their head indicating 'no'.
Among the many various cuts the man had experienced, both of his eyes were gouged out and slits to both sides of his mouth making it more hinge-like but curved up like a smile.
Shari lights one of his torches as he steps outside to see the moon. Thoughts of the night he was driven from his home playing before his eyes, holds the torch ahead of him and cautiously approaches the man to inspect the body. Unless he sees anything that would indicate something strange under clothing, he does not touch anything and scans the body with his eyes.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Raaf would smile weakly at the people who praised him for his buck. As if it was awkward to hear such praises. Raaf, who had already donned his armor after his bath stands up suddenly at the yelling from outside. His eyes tunnel visioned to the door as he instinctual walked to it holding his crossbow.
Upon seeing the corpse, Raaf would inspect it to determine time of death, cause and anything specific about it. Dead bodies were a common occurance for Raaf to view. He then scans the area for recent tracks of anything that looked like it was carrying something heavy.
"Where was the deceased last seen alive?" Raaf asks almost to calmly for the situation at hand.
"quite possibly this mornin'. Least that was the last I'd seen him, tendin' to fields and fixin' scarecrows about the fields" one man starts, "but that was this mornin'"
The other two shrug still stunned at the sight. Cedric comes out of his tavern to see the commotion and immediately says a prayer under his breath as he face is struck with horror. He stays at the door to the tavern not willing to get closer.
It is quite obvious that he had been cut with something sharp as the various uncovered wounds are deep into the flesh.
Raaf would walk to Akari's side and whisper to him, "His heart was ripped from his body. We are dealing with something very unholy and evil. Gather the others, I think our best bet is to search around the other scarecrows out in the fields for more information. Or at least the site of the original attack... there isn't a trace of a struggle here."
Raaf turns to Cedric. "Find the priests of this town, we need some holy water. Notify next of kin. We are laying this man to rest tonight." Raaf begins to carefully take down the body from the post. He may be paranoid, but that's how he's survived this long. Especially when there's a possibility of undead.
|
|
Gabriel exits the tavern following the rest. The corpse makes him go silent for a long minute before grabbing the closest man of the crowd "Go find his family and friends... but don't bring them here, they don't deserve watchinf him like this. Tell them the bad news and lead them to the church."
Turning to another man, tthe aasimar continues "You bring the mayor or whoever is in charge here. Bring the guard too, if you have. The one who protects you if not."
Once he is finished giving orders to the stunned men, the warrior joins Raaf "Good thinking... but I suspect nothing from the realm of the unliving has done this. We must be sure, though" he says as he focuses on the corpse and gory scarecrow like structure, trying to sense magic.
The warrior then hekps Raaf lower the body to the ground and uses his own cloak to cover it as an improvised shroud.
"Well, he was clearly meant to be a statement of some kind... And just because they are unliving doesn't mean they can't have an ego... I just assume the worst case scenario, because you can only go uphill from that point on..."
Raaf would pause before continuing, as if hesitant to speak. A few moments pass and Raaf continues in a hush whisper to Gabe.
"Earlier, when I was out hunting... a voice came to my ears. It beckoned me to a clearing where I insisted it to show itself, whatever it was declined. Thinking itself above the 'likes' of me... as it put it. Though it told me, 'Dark times lay ahead of you... some sooner than not.' Then this happens..."
Raaf looks down at the man and grits his teeth.
"Ripping the heart out of a man and strapping him to a post... Dark times indeed. Though not surprising..."
|
|
"Disturbing... and worrying, indeed. We must wait for the authorities to come and plan what to do. Such a display of brutality sure was meant to terrify the inhabitants so we might as well try to fight that from the start." comments Gabriel to Raaf before continuing in a whispering voice "You seem pretty well prepared and we look our part... I hate lying to good people, but maybe a declaration -a bit of acting from our parts- can put their hearts to rest and give us some advantage." he suggests.
"Tell it to rhe rest to see what they think, if we all agree to do it I can try to bring forth our inner lights so we appear more convincing and capable."
Akari looks to Raafe, astonished. "It's a sad, and disturbing thing that this came as no surprise to you, regardless of what you may have heard in the forest."
"I think we should leave the talking to the village leaders. We're strangers here, after all and our arrival has been, coincidental in its timing."
As the screams died down quickly she takes her time coming down first finding something to put the rose in, grabbing the book(it isn't leaving her side now ), and all her supplies. She then goes down stairs, seeing no one she will then go outside.
Seeing the other gathered around something on the ground she realizes part way there it's a person.
Ignoring the running conversation.
"So what do we have here?
She lifts the blanket and takes a look at the corpse.
"Heart is gone. Could be ritualistic, or someone needed the heart for something dark. There is a festival starting tomorrow, perhaps there is more to it than the villagers know, or want us to know."
Those few townsfolk whom were there before watch as the body is taken down and nod at Akari. None seem the wiser of what could have brought on such grim luck to their friend yet otherwise, only a few minutes more would come to pass before new faces began making their way towards you. The screams from before appear to have wakened a few from their slumbers or at least peaked their curiosity.
The man Gabriel speaks to looks curiously at him as tears run down his face, "I do not recognize you, we have never needed such things as a mayor..." his eyes graze over the covered corpse before immediately pulling away and turning his gaze from the man.
Cedric steps up now, "understand, we have never had anything like this happen, and with you all acting calm it does put doubt in their minds. While I know you were in the tavern, suspicion will likely fall as your comrade Akari here, says. I understand that you're trying to help, but not everyone will see it that way in the panic" he diverts his eyes from looking at the body but his voice wavers as it is obvious of the struggle to keep calm."...besides, if our guards aren't here..." his stare goes past Gabriel now looking in the direction of the front gate. If it were any indication in this poor lighting his face went pale and his breathing had a panic to it, though of the others he remained, somehow, where he was.
Raaf will look from the mayor to the front gate. "I'll check it out, Akari... if you could join me." He stands and walks to the front gate, his crossbow at the ready.
|
|
Gabriel turns to Raafe "I will go with you. If it's the undeath what lurks around as you think, my Lord Pelor will help us." he almost whispers before turning to the villagers that voiced their distrust.
"I do not ask you to trust me or my companions, for you have reasons to believe that our arrival and this gruesome tragedy are indeed linked. Mere words won't suffice, Pelor knows only actions show the true nature of our hearts, but heed my words: We will clean this world of whatever thing did this to your neighbour. I swear it by my name, my faith and my light!"
As he pronounces the last words, Gabe focus on his inner light and his sword starts shining as bright as the day.
The warrior priest then follows Raafe with his sword and shield ready and his will steeled.
The travel towardschedule the front entrance to the town where you'd all entered in quiet and greeted only by oncoming fog. Details are hard to make out beyond 100 feet outward from the town. Stepping out past the large wooden posts that make and mark the entrance to both sides and impaled, are the guards. Blood still falls freely from their mouths as well as the wounds of implement. A look of fear is forever frozen on their faces.
No traces of a struggle prove they were attacked by surprise.
"Well that's interesting. Probably took some effort to get them up there like that, but no one else heard a thing."
After examining the bodies for a moment her head perks up.
She signals silence to the rest of the group and whispers, "There is something out in the fog."
|
|
Gabe raises an eyebrow under his helmet at Lys comment "I wouldn't use an adjective as "interesting" to describe this horror... more like terrible, hateful or abominable but I guess our points of view- What?"
After perceiving the movement, Gabriel adopts a fighting stand and whispers "I can't make what lurks there from here... if you cover me I'll advance and figure it out once and for all." as determination fills his voice.
"Couldn't see a thing... damn fog... always gotta be fog..." Raaf states in a hushed whisper. "I won't be more than 10ft from you Gabe. Lys, stack up behind me. Akari, hold rear. It will probably try and split us, don't run forward to meet it, let it come to you. Stand vigilant."
Raaf looks about the ground around the guards to see if any fresh tracks were made recently from the surprise attack, if some are found he will try and deduce if there are multiple threats and if they ran up to attack or leapt into attack.
Sighing with some exasperation, Akari settles on his feet and holds the rear as suggested. His dominant hand held up over his shoulder, ready to unsheathe wrath upon whatever may lurk in the mists.
Lys nods and joins the group hand in her bag ready to blow up anything hostile.