"You should both be safe now.", William gestures at the now motionless skeletons, "It seems these were the extent of our living-impaired invaders. You should both be able to head back to the village with little danger, just move quickly and keep your eyes open for any other dangers. Which way did the runners go after they passed by you're...picnic?"
"They ran off in that direction," I say once again, pointing to the west.
William turns to Gendo, "While it may be prudent for one of our number to escort these two back to town, I think it best we follow the runners directly and with as much haste as possible.", William turns an uneasy glance toward the destroyed skeletons, "With undead such as these roaming the forest, I don't wish to leave the villagers to whatever fate has befallen them any longer than absolutely necessary. Besides, if they have simply returned to town then so shall we eventually by following their trail."
"We came from the village. Move quickly and there should be nothing to harm you. We must press on. Here, take this." Jon hands the more capable of the two his sickle. "This should deter anything else from attacking you. Keep moving and stay together."
"The only sovereign you can allow to rule is reason. While I understand your concern for the other racers, following your heart, however noble, is allowing your passion to overrule your reason. It will lead to naught but folly in the end." My voice is polite, but neutral in tone as I speak. "If sending these two off with naught but a sickle is sufficient for them," raising my hand to inidicate Lena and Arik,"then the runners who came through here with all do haste should be enough as well. They could just as easily grab a branch to defend themselves." I pause a moment, allowing my words to linger.
"Our first priority should be to discover from whence the dead walkers came, ascertain WHAT or WHO caused their unrest and return to the living, and mayhap stop it from happening again."
Those of you familiar with the area know that if the runners headed west, following the stream, they'd clear the trees in short order and have a clear shot due south into the village.
Arik hands Jon back his sickle. "My thanks, but if there's any more walking bones I think we'll just make a run for it. My hands were shaking bad enough climbing the tree."
"The only sovereign you can allow to rule is reason. While I understand your concern for the other racers, following your heart, however noble, is allowing your passion to overrule your reason. It will lead to naught but folly in the end." My voice is polite, but neutral in tone as I speak. "If sending these two off with naught but a sickle is sufficient for them," raising my hand to inidicate Lena and Arik,"then the runners who came through here with all do haste should be enough as well. They could just as easily grab a branch to defend themselves." I pause a moment, allowing my words to linger.
"Our first priority should be to discover from whence the dead walkers came, ascertain WHAT or WHO caused their unrest and return to the living, and mayhap stop it from happening again."
"I agree, but often the best way to find the hare is to follow the fox. It is but a quick jog back to the village and as much as I hate to admit it, Three Oaks is should be perfectly safe with the Thane's men to watch over it for the moment. By leaving the safety of the village the runners are have likely made targets of themselves. I would wager that we will find more answers if we track them down as quickly as possible."
"If you feel strongly enough, please feel free to escort Lena and Aric back to the village, but I must profess different priorities."
Auric chews his lip, looking indecisive.
"I hate to leave you both unprotected... but we need to look for where these things came from. Hm. Arik, Lena, do you have your spirit lanterns from Old Tom with you? Mine really came in handy... here, if you forgot yours, you should take mine. Whatever's out there won't be able to lay a finger on you so long as you've got it. Believe me, I'm about as graceful as an ox and there's not a scratch on me right?"
"And listen: you didn't see any spellcasting, all right? At least, nothing you remember. We just got really lucky and got the skeletons by surprise while they were clawing after you. In fact, let's just kick a few more bones over here around the tree really quickly, just in case. You know how the Thane's men don't like to believe we can do anything for ourselves."
"I don't feel strongly toward seeing that they are protected or unprotected. Simply that, if they are to be left with Jon's," I pause a moment as I see the sickle handed back to Jon, "...er, run back to the village on their own, then the racers are just as capable of doing so on their own as well. Let's carefully explore the tracks of the dead walkers and see if we can discern whether any ran off after the racers or stayed here and tried to get the lovebirds before we came along. If we can find tracks heading in the same direction as the racers, then you're surmise has merit. If not, then I say we see if we can follow the dead walkers back to whence they came."
William takes a minute or two and searches the surrounding area, looking for signs of what has transpired.
Survival :
While the discussion continues, Jon bids the teens farewell and begins to see if he can find any evidence of tracks, either runner or undead.
Survival:
The two teens make their way back to the village with a final declaration of heartfelt thanks and assurance that they saw nothing out of the ordinary. (In Lena's case, that's true; her eyes were closed.)
As Jon moves about the trees, surveying the area, he is able to read the ground as easily as an open book. He is able to ascertain that which Gendo spotted, plus a bit more.
Recap: Apparently many of the racers came pell-mell through the area, running west. It's possible that many of them simply fled the skeletons by the most direct route, possibly turning south towards town once they'd lost their pursuers. The skeletons were milling about around the tree before they were alerted to your party's presence.
New: The skeletons appear to have been attacking at random, breaking off pursuit of one individual when they grew closer to another. Jon finds no bodies or wounded, and there's neither enough blood anywhere, nor any faltering tracks, to indicate that any of the runners were mortally injured. Following the tracks back through the trees, he can see that the group of skeletons entered the wood from the northeast. Their scattered tracks were originally one trail coming in following the waterway downstream.
Jon relates what he's found to the others.
"My responsibility is to the living, not the dead. We should ensure the safety of the runners, then determine where the dead came from."
I raise an eyebrow at the sentiments of Jon and William for a moment before a mask of passivity returns to my face.
I sound almost absent-minded, as though thinking aloud,"To remain in ignorance why something has occurred in pursuit of an apparent altruistic endeavor still leaves one in ignorance." Then my voice returns to normal before continuing,"The racers went this way I believe."[/b]
I begin walking in the direction that was discerned by Jon.
The party forms up and moves through the trees, eventually getting clear of them. Sure enough, the tracks all seem to form into a single trail moving south towards town. A large crowd seems to be gathered on the green, with a lot of people yelling and speaking at once. There seems to be no sign of any stragglers or fallen, and you're fairly certain all the race participants made it home safely.
"Looks like everyone's all right. Let's do a quick look at where those dead things came in and we can head back before they start looking for us... everyone in town, I mean. Not the dead guys."
"It does appear so. Perhaps, the trail will not have gone cold and we will discover what drove the dead walkers."
"Very well. Let us seek out the dead, now that we are sure the living still live."
"Indeed, I just hope backtracking the skeleton's trail will reveal some answers."
The lot of you head back to the wood, picking up the trail again and following it through the trees. After a short distance, it leads you to the stream's banks. Skeletal footprints are easily seen in the mud here. In the midst of the stream is a small island, some ten to twelve feet across, and thirty or so feet long. It is covered in scrub and a few trees. There are several large rocks scattered in the flow, and it seems possible to hop from rock to rock to reach the island.
Jon will move across the stream, hopping from rock to rock.
Auric pauses to watch the island from the bank. His lips move in a silent prayer to Baal.
Perception:
William stows his bow on his back in order to have his hands free and surveys the island for a moment.
Perception :
Provided he sees no danger on the island, he then quickly begins to follow Jon across the stones.
Acrobatics :
Auric studies the island intently for several moments.
William, seeing nothing alarming, hops nimbly from stone to stone.
Following suit onto the island.
Acrobatics:
Acrobatics:
Oroupah carefully picks her way across the stones, not wanting to take a dunking in the cold stream. The party assembles on the island.
William once again readies his bow and peers cautiously around the island.
Perception :
Perception:
Survival:
Acrobatics Check: to see how well I hop across stones.
Perception Check:
Gendo has a moment on the rocks where he has to stop dead. His footing on the slippery rocks is treacherous and he stands midway across, teetering on one foot in an effort to retain balance and not go plunging into the water. Eventually he recovers. Then he proceeds carefully and joins the others.
As the party combs over the small piece of land, Gendo immediately notices a section of earth near the middle of the island is disturbed and loose, as if some animal had been digging here recently. He also finds what appears to be skeletal prints in the loose soil.
Auric notes that the disturbed earth seems relatively shallow; the soil turned up here only appears to be the first two feet or so. Also, it doesn't look like normal digging, the upturned earth lies in more or less the same place. In addition, he finds what appear to be rotted scraps of cloth and leather in the earth itself.
Jon also notes the disturbed earth and the tracks. As well, he finds a bare footprint in the mud on the near side of the island, facing the rocks your group just crossed. Jon's trained eye looks over the scene and comes up with the following scenario: A human--likely a woman or a young boy, judging from the size and depth of the prints--crossed the stream from the opposite side. The skeletons unearthed themselves from the ground here, then followed the human across the stream after all paused here momentarily. There are no signs of a struggle or a chase.
Oroupah casts a spell and surveys the area, declaring that there is no magic to be found here. She does note that from what little she knows of the necromantic arts that a caster can control such mindless undead with simple commands. Yet with the way Arik described their behavior, it is like the one who raised them simply left them to their own devices in the wood. A command to "kill all who come here" would have left a pack of undead that relentlessly attacked anyone until they were dead or out of reach. Yet the skeletons were distracted by each new target as it came close.
"I have no guess as to the reason behind the undead's behavior, but it would seem that there is at least one person out there who might have some answers. I suggest we try to pick up the trail on the other side of the river."
To everyone else, I appear calm, albeit with furrowed brow as if deep in thought. Inside, I feel turmoil and dread. I nod my head slightly, having come to a decision.
In a deliberately soft tone of voice, "This is most troubling. There is more I would tell you that may be related to what has occurred here. I will not say more until each of you have give your solemn unbreakable vow, by your god, family, or sworn blood oath, that nothing I say here will be revealed to anyone else. Even if you have the utmost trust and faith in another, no one else may know."
Though my words are softly spoken, they are spoken with conviction.
I clasp my hands in front of me, holding myself poised, waiting for the others to agree. Plainly evident that I am unwilling to speak further.
Auric gives Gendo a searching look before shaking his head.
"No. Fools swear blindly and Baal has no pity for frivolous oaths. If this is a major threat to Three Oaks, we may need the Thane's men to intervene. I will know what information you have and judge the size of the threat first. Only after I know the fullest extent of what I'm swearing to and can judge whether my silence will be of greater harm than speaking out will I swear to anything."
"I hold no oaths to men or mortals to be binding, lad. But I keep my word, as well as a man can, if I should give it. Tell what you can, lad and let us judge."
William furrows his brow, considering his position for a moment.
"While I may not share the fervor of our friend the blacksmith, I am inclined to agree. I can think of few good reasons why I would need to break your confidence, but your desire for this level of secrecy has me on edge."
William shifts an uneasy glance toward Oroupah and then a questioning one to each of the others in turn. With a sigh he decides to push forward.
"From what I had understood, there is already a good deal of discretion between most of us by mere association. What information could you impart that would require a greater level of secrecy from those you have just met?"
"You're swearing to knowledge. Knowledge that I believe pertains to what has occurred here as well as my home. Knowledge which could endanger my home if it were to be revealed to the Thane, his men, or the espoused one and only true faith of Baal."[b]
I look down to my feet for a moment, before raising my eyes once again to look at the everyone, [b]"I'm sorry, without an oath of secrecy, I cannot say more. I will not risk my fellow brothers or my home."
My voice is firm, but respectful.
Jon steps close to the lad, pushing his rooster mask up from his eyes. In a low voice he murmurs, "What you're speaking out loud in front of a load of witnesses is blasphemy and treason, son. What you're asking could get every one of us killed, not to mention our families and kin. Tread lightly when you put them at danger. Things that happen in small towns often never step beyond its borders and you're an outsider already."
William regards Gendo for a few moments before speaking
"It would seem your dead set on this friend. Very well, I would rather I myself know and not be able to share than be out of the loop and continue on in ignorance. You have my word that I will not reveal any of what you tell me that could potentially endanger the safety of your home, wherever it may be, in any way."
Auric crosses his arms.
"I figured you must have something to do with this. Rooster- who is this guy? Where'd he come from and why is he here? This seems like precisely the sort of things our "mutual friends" need to hear about."
He chews his lip, frustrated.
"I am only willing to swear against idle talk and against speaking of it to our... "governers". Our contacts will be kept in the loop. If you can't trust that, I'll just see what I can find on the other bank."
"I apologize for being reticent about this. I will accept your vow Auric, so as long as mutual friends and contacts study that which pertains to the moon."
I take a deep breath before continuing.
"Jon, I may be an outsider now, but it was not so at my birth. I was born in Three Oaks. Baalites felt my birth was an ill omen, being bastard born and my mother dying while birthing me. If not for Master Steadwatch convincing them to allow my mentor to take me, I'd not be here today.
As for the knowledge to which I have asked for vows. I have already revealed some of my tale - the attack on my home. I am a member of a small brotherhood dedicated to the preservation, acquisition, and pursuit of knowledge. My order would be destroyed as heretics and blasphemers for our lack of worship of Baal. Hence my reticence in speaking of my home."
At first, my words come slowly, but flow more freely as I continue to speak.
"My order was charged long ago to be guardians of relics from ages past. Some items of such a vile nature, that they are kept from all else for fear of corrupting others and posing an even greater risk to the people of the land. Several days ago, while myself and two other brothers were sent to acquire supplies, our monastery was attacked by dead walkers. The attack left several of my order dead. Of greater concern, was the theft of a tome, a vile work, and the kidnapping of my mentor and head of our order - Master Heyward, affectionately known as Ironhead to many dwarves. The danger in his disappearance is that he is the one person in our order who knows the nature of the relics for which we are guardians. I fear the worst for my mentor. I fear that what befell my home and the dead walker attack today are related."
As I finish, my words are at once fearful and relieved to finally tell my tale in full.
While your conversation goes on, Jon checks on the trail of this barefoot individual. Unfortunately, he is unable to pick up its trail on the other side of the stream. On the side you came from, he can only discern that the individual crossed then turned northeast, roughly parallel to the stream. Some rocky ground further on obscures any further sign.
Auric listens intently.
"I'm sorry to hear about your home. This may seem insensitive, but why even keep these books if they're so vile? It seems that the safest thing to do would be to destroy them rather than risking something exactly like this happening. I mean no offense, truly, but I struggle to see the reasoning behind keeping them."
Auric runs a hand through his hair.
"We've lost our culprit it seems. Best we turn back to town before people get suspicious. Maybe we oughtta go back in small groups instead of together?"
"Operating outside the law as decreed by the Church of Baal is nothing new to us. You have no need to fear us betraying the secrecy of your order."
William sighs deeply before continuing.
"For the time being I'm afraid your information raises more questions than it answers. However it does seem to suggest that the undead outside here made it to the village more by chance than design. We saw none of the organization Gendo describes in the attack on his order. As a result I don't believe Three Oaks will be facing any further attacks for the time being. If Jon is unable to make any headway tracking our mysterious interloper, I suggest we head back to the village. Our best chance of receiving answers will likely come from our arranged meeting in the morning."
I agree, perhaps three groups would be best? I am fine to return on my own, there are few who would question me heading off alone once the skeleton's showed up and I should be more than capable of persuading any who do."
William smiles at the last before bowing and gesturing for the others to cross the stream first.
Your group breaks into pairs, wandering back into the village square. Oroupah spends a lot of time on her walk back gazing up over her shoulder, staring up at a bright star in the heavens back whence you came.
Your absence seems to cause little stir. The dwarven guards simply assume you to be other stragglers. They point out that you shouldn't stray out into the dark tonight and that most folk are either celebrating in their homes, or attending the dance which has been moved from the green to the town meeting hall. Old Tom has enlisted many of the village children to aid him in hanging spirit lanterns on the eaves around the building. Despite the initial alarm, the villagers spirits seem indefatigable and you can hear laughter and cheerful voices. Strains of music begin to rise from inside.
Your group takes heart at the maintained camaraderie of the festival, and your night passes with fun and good cheer. You eventually retire to your beds weary from both your work and revelry this day.
Come morning, you break your fast in the early hours at the Huntsman's Rest. You are afforded reasonable privacy as you are the only folk up and about aside from the innkeeper, Ouryn Dunmont.
Then your journey is underway, the risen sun obscured by clouds and frost clinging to the grass and crunching underfoot. Jon leads you east out of the village, traveling the main road for a good two hours before turning north and leading you into a forested area. Leaf litter crunches and shushes with every step you take. You eat up the better part of the daylight with your journey. Jon informs the group that you are nearly there.
In the late afternoon you come around a low rise to see a clearing. In it stands an old mill aside a broad, deep stream, its waterwheel still creaking and turning in the current. A short distance away you see a young man and woman dressed in simple but warm clothes working under some trees. They hold shovels and appear to be filling in holes with spadefuls of earth.
Jon steps forward into the clearing. "Good day! I bring friends. Mutual friends. What is the news?"
The two are startled, not having heard your approach and whirl at the sound of your greeting. You see surprise turn to chagrin and slight bemusement as they realize who you are.
They turn and greet Jon, eyeing the other members of your group curiously. The young woman, blond of hair and green of eye, smiles.
"Welcome, friends. I am Lessa. This is Marten."
Marten, dark where Lessa is fair, gives a nod of greeting but says nothing. Instead, he points with his shovel toward open sacks lying on the ground near him. As you approach, you see there are piles of humanoid bones in them.
Auric nods to our new friends.
"Hullo. I'm Auric. Quite a gardening project you have there."