You know, a death priest is who sent out the request for help. Brayjio Springhand, I believe. Galenus thinks out to his companions.
Sharla changes her form and advances into the clearing. Anders stays back just long enough to catch view of the duo in the rear and waves them forward before advancing himself.
As you all filter out into the clearing, the dwarvern woman stops digging and turns to face you, along with the others. She pants with some small exertion, as does the young man who is still cooling off from his turn digging. The three watch you with some wariness as you approach, but don't object.
"What's this then? What do you want?" says the man through his mustache, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. "You aren't friends. You aren't family? What's your business?"
"Oh, shush yer rude mouth, Borth." the dwarf woman says, wiping her forehead with a forearm. She gives you a warm smile, and you see that she has three metal teeth, all next to each other on the top-right of her mouth.
"Welcome, strangers. Mornin's fine, 'cept fer the somberin' circumstances that bring us out here. Get lost lookin' fer town?" She walks forward, shovel on shoulder, and reaches out to clasp hands with the disguised Sharla and anyone else who appears approachable.
Anders simply stands to the side and folds his massive arms, and he nods with a half-smile to the moustache man. He then looks in the direction of the others approaching.
I will let these others do the talking, here. It appears my Axe is not needed at this point.
"We heard a noise of to the side of the road, and we were curious." says Sharla, shaking Reagoria's hand casually, "We've had quite a long ride from our respective homes, and so we thought a little noise of interest could lighten up the day. Although we seem to have intruded on quite a somber gathering."
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Varus emerges from the undergrowth, and immediately puts on his #3 Smile of Welcoming the Faithful and opens his arms wide.
"Ah! Greetings, greetings children, and my the Light smile upon you. What have we here? Are you burying a loved one. Ah, my deepest condolences, but take heart that they are embraced by the highest love we shall ever know. Did they pass by an illness? Or old age perhaps?"
He looks around. "Have you your own...pastor to perform the Rites? Um, we have business in the town, but of course I could spare a moment to give you and thy departed comfort as they start the Final Journey. Would that be pleasing to you?"
"Well, its a relief that you aren't bandits like we thought. We are indeed going to town." Sharla says. "If we're all friends here, I would like to help you trust me."
Sharla shifts back to her normal skinny pale form, looking slightly apologetically at the trio of townsfolk. "Apologies about the deceit, I wasn't sure how much I could trust you. I know you may be thinking I am a doppelganger, but I assure you I am not. My friend Galenus here," she wave towards him, "can vouch for me. Sharla Glasob, Tumbler for the Fools Wagon, at your service." She bows to the people, who are no doubt staring at her in bewilderment.
Galenus peeks out from behind Varus' shoulder and waves at the crowd, trying to smile.
Sharla stays in her guise, and introduces a false name for them to call her. The others make their introductions as well, excepting Anders who stands as an observer to these pleasantries.
"You a priest?" asks the mustached man toward Varus. "If you want to do rites, we'll accept. Gods above knows waiting for that boy of a priest we have will take long enough. But that's only if you're going to wait for us to finish digging."
The younger man eyes the group with mixed emotions.
He seems the type to like strangers, but something is holding him back from being properly chatty. Probably just the task he is currently tending, the burial of the dead.
He bobs his head, but doesn't advance to clasp hands. "Mornin..." he says, and turns to Irontooth. "You want I should finish digging?"
"Nonsense" the dwarf replies, kindly. "It's my turn an' I'll be finishin' it."
She faces the group once again. "Well if you'll give rites, we'll appreciate it once this hole is dug. Our priest is more interested in writin' letters than tendin' the dead."
She walks back to the hole and resumes digging, talking between shoveling earth. "I run a place back up at Town. If you're new, that's probably where yer headin'. Go on in, and one of my helpers will get ye settled. Kelly, y'can show them the way, if you'd like. Morrus and I can finish up, and if your priest wants to stick around for the burryin' we can walk him up once we're done."
"If you have an extra shovel, I could dig a bit. I'm not very strong, but I'm strong enough."
Anders steps forward and looks at the dwarf in the hole.
We'll all be stickin' together. We have a carriage back on the trail waiting ' for us. We'll all head back to your place once our priest is done here.
Galenus recognizes that the lad seems uncomfortable. Once he hands off the final task to the dwarf, Galenus walks over to him and sits down next to him. So, he says the the boy, care to say what happened?
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Varus is in his element now. Often there was little else to do but greet the parishioners as they entered the church, seeking services or absolution, or simply some peace from the constant burdens of feudal society. Amy tension he may have had starts to ease and his speech takes on a more friendly tone.
He nods as Anders says they'll be staying.
"Ah, of course, of course we shall stay and give you company until this duty is fulfilled. Time enough there is for the settling in, but let us see clear our priorities. This is the last duty of the dearly departed before us, so let us handle it with care.
Usually the Rites can be crafted to a degree of personalization, to ease each individual soul's journey. Can you tell me aught of them? And, specifically, how did they die? There can be different passages required depending on if it was a passing from disease, or violence, or simply old age."
Varus hopes that they can start to get some information about the region, and it seems that these people would be expects on it. Also, if the death was caused by anything other than natural causes, that would be a point of interest.
Kelly looks over at Galenus, who has read him and approaches with empathy. "It's just these lands..." Kelly says softly, his expression flat. "Wyatt's Peak... It's cursed. Sometimes I think I'll just get on one of my horses and ride out, never looking back. But then I'll be turning away from everything my parents built, away from my mum's business. I can't just abandon it, can I?"
He sighs, deeply, trying to steady himself but failing. He looks over at the wrapped body, the corpse that even now is having a place prepared for its final rest. "Or maybe I'll do what Alvus did. Keep drinking, and don't stop until I knew it'll turn the herbs sour in my belly. Then drink down the medicine like it was poison instead, and fret no more. But there's no promise there is peace even then, not with Alvus and the others... LINGERING like they do..."
He gives Galenus a thin smile, a bit of mischievousness breaking through the despair in his eyes. "That one is for free, friend. Usually I charge for advice and gossip. It isn't proud work, but I need to make coin. I'll give you a few more free words, turn around and leave this place, before whatever curse that has befallen it can affect you."
The mustached man, Morrus, replies to Varus' questioning. "Aye, I'll tell you about the dearly departed." he says this last with a sardonic bite.
And while Irontooth digs, and Galenus chats with Kelly, Morrus tells Varus about the dead.
His name was Robrathe Carson, and he was a farmer. He had a family, a wife and child who aren't here today because they are arguably more cowardly than Robrathe. He worked hard, and tended the fields that gave Wyatt Peak's its food, and donated coin to the local church (he says this with disdain), even after there was only one, young priest left.
"However, Robrathe as I teased before, was a damned coward. He took, what I'm sure he thought, was the easy way out and poisoned himself one night at the tavern. Not only did that fool quit his life and leave the rest of us with more work to do, but now his memory lingers in that place, spoiling what little reprieve we found there." He spits on the ground.
"Ask me not what I mean about his lingering memory. It would be easier for you to just enter that place and see for yourself."
Galenus smiles a knowing smile and mutters to himself, A curse huh? Maybe I'll fit right in.
Thinking out to his companions; They have an undead problem. The dead tend to linger beyond their time. Maybe this is why the death priest called out for help.
I'll tell ya, lad. Galenus says to Kelly, in a soft scratchy voice, as if he's not used to speaking much, From my experience, things tend to change, and with change comes new chances and new choices. He smiles to himself. His gaunt skin stretched tight over his thin pale frame. But the smile is genuine, you could see it in his eyes.
If things don't change around you, then you make it change; you make it better. That's why I'm here; to change my life - to make it better. And to hopefully make my world a little better too. I sought change; I sought redemption, and fate brought me here. So stick around and keep your mum's business running; maybe things will change for you, too. If you're in the right place at the right time, maybe you can snatch some good right out of the air.
The grave is now dug, and the wrapped body waits for its final words. The hole is only about three feet deep, but the trio appear to be satisfied with that.
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Appearing satisfied at the hole (and doubting he'd get any better) Varus bades the others to place the body in the hole. As they do so he chants, then shouts praise. "Though you are taken from us too soon, son Robrathe, may the Light shine ever upon your face. My your spirit find upon the Long Road the peace that you forever sought in life. May the kind sight of Lathander shine upon the family that mourns you, and the friends that miss you. And may the Earth accept your body and embrace it in the Eternal Cycle. The Light be with you."
The last phrase indicates the end of the simple sermon. Varus makes the sign of the Sun and the Road and sprinkles a handful of dirt over the corpse, indicating that the body may now be covered.
Once sufficient dirt has been thrown over him, he says, "Now perhaps his haunting presence shall be a quantum easier to deal with, as his body lays now in peaceful slumber. Come, let us be about it. The Long Road waits for us all and gets no shorter in the standing."
Varus allows a frown to crease his face. If this undead problem is true, that will make for a nasty business. Shameful that some refuse to enter the Eternal Cycle.
"Farewell to you then." Says Sharla, and moves back to the carriage, beckoning Galenus along with her. Once they are out of sight and earshot she shifts back.
"Bleh. I should have chosen a girl body."
"So its an undead problem? I wonder why? Have any ideas?"
Anders waits for Varus to finish, and he nods to the mourners before heading back with Varus.
Good words to send a man to the mud, Varus.
With Robrathe's prayer over, the three busy themselves with burying the corpse. They leave a rock at the head of it, mentioning it that "the priest" will bring down a proper, engraved headstone and say his own blessings when he is able.
The four of you walk back to the carriage, and the three villagers walk a bit further up the mountain before entering the tree-line. A moment passes as you walk, and you hear the sounds of the villagers greeting their own horses near the road.
"All ready then?" Choster says around his pipe, is eyes narrowed and his collar pulled up high against the brisk air and ominous feeling. He seems even more grim than he did before, and you can't blame him; the strange feeling is oppressive.
Entering the carriage, Choster gets his team of horses moving once more, and you continue riding up the slight incline of the mountains, toward Wyatt Peak.
The carriage bumps along the small road for some time before the trees thin, and the road straightens. Not far ahead of you, you can see the three villagers trotting along on the road when you peak out the windows.
Farmland frames this area, as well as grazing grasslands covered in all manner of farm animals, mostly goats. Further beyond these farmlands, the trees resume, and up the road you see dozens of buildings looming out of the morning fog.
The feeling that had been creeping up your neck as you neared the grave site continued increasing as you rode another half-hour to complete your journey. The light of day seemed to dim, the fog thickened, and the feeling of dark, creeping oppression heightened. It was a gradual increase, difficult to tell when exactly the feeling grew. Before long, though, you find yourselves double-taking to look at trees, or looking at each other as if the other had been staring hatefully at you. When you look, however, you see nothing of note; the trees were normal, nothing was looming in the shadows, and your companions seem as benignly ill-at-ease as you.
The carriage pulls into the town's center, and Choster halts his horses, letting you out.
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Scene - Wyatt Peak, The Speaking Tree
You are within the small town of Wyatt Peak, upon a cobbled road that makes a ring. Many buildings of crude but sturdy human construction make up the town, and those of you with a discerning eye used to urban areas would place the population of Wyatt Peak as around 1,000. Not enough to be a great settlement of civilized life, but a decently populated place that has clearly grown well in the last couple of decades.
The houses are surrounded by farm lands, and those are ringed by the thick woods of Wyatt Peak. You have reached the summit of one part of the Dragonback Mountains, though the morning sun had betrayed a even taller peak further to the East as you rode up. Now, however, that peak is lost in the fog that appears invulnerable to the warming rays of the sun. Indeed, the thin sunlight feels colder than it normally would. Another effect of this 'curse'?
A few small streets run off in other directions from here, passing through the rest of the town like veins.
Features
The town center's ring of the road circles around a large oak tree. Dangling from the tree's branches are many rough, weathered signs; dozens of them pointing in every direction. Upon the surface of the tree is a carving with more details visible at a closer look.
Getting closer to the tree, you can read what is carved upon its trunk.
Wyatt Peak
Founded DR 912
In memory of Killian Wyatt, your husband and children will love you, always.
Beneath this official looking, ancient carving is a newer, fresher one.
LIFE FEEDS DEATH
Despite other hands clearly attempting to scratch out this newer addition to the tree's surface, this grim scrawl is too deep for these casual attempts to be successful.
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Several buildings stand in this area. A few of the more important looking ones have their own signs pointing them out. Kelly's Horses, The Sundown Inn, Jim's General, and The Cup and Dice. Except for The Sundown, each of these are two stories, clearly the kind with the business on the ground floor, and homes on the second.
The Inn is three stories, a narrow, creaking looking tower of common accommodations. Kelly's has a stable attachment, a crude looking thing open to the air, full of mildewing stray, and containing a few sub par horses.
Occupants
Reagoria, Kelly, and Morrus are near Kelly's Horses. They have dismounted and Kelly is unsaddling them with a practiced ease. Reagoria and Morrus are talking, the dwarf woman clearly trying to end the conversation to return to her inn, but being stopped. Each time, she takes a few steps more, but Morrus will speak, halting her and drawing her back into the conversation.
Other villagers have pulled up wagons here. Some are parked in front of each of these other businesses. A Teifling woman stands in front of Jim's and looks through some old clothes a villager has brought to her. A halfling man in front of the Cup and Dice talks animatedly to an extremely tired looking half-elf while receiving food from another villager.
Others are walking to and fro, either entering the circle, leaving it, or merely passing through. Some are browsing the carts villagers have brought up, while some whisper to each other in small knots.
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As you exit the carriage, a few villagers (clearly a family) approach the wagon. Ignoring you, however, their attention is fixed to your driver.
"Choster! When are you heading back away from this place? This morning I hope? My family is all packed up and we want to leave at once, please tell us you can!"
Being nearer to the Cup and Dice, you're able to pick up on some of what the halfling is saying to the half-elf.
"Look, young Springhand, you're the only priest left in town, so I'm begging you!"
Anders jumps out of the cart, glad to be off of it. He trusts his feet on the ground much more than any type of man-made transportation.
He stretches and yawns.
Not too sure about all of you, but I could do with a snack and a mead. Shall we to the Inn?
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Varus tries to catch his companion's attention, while trying to get his stiff legs to carry him out of the seat. He responds, "Oh, good Anders, none would agree with you more than I that a flagon of mead is called for, but let us to business for the now and delay our repast a moment.
I think that beleaguered half-elf there is our good priest Springhand. Let us at least make introduction. Perhaps he can even join us in a bit of sup and speak at length on his problem most pressing."
Vaurs gets out of the cart and waits for his friends to join him, keeping an ear on the conversation between the half-elf and the halfling.
"Uugh, can we just eat? I've had nothing but trail rations for days now!"
If that's our guy, then let's invite him to dinner like Varus says.
Anders walks towards the Half-Elf that Varus has pointed out, and he shouts in his direction.
Springhand! Is that you?
I'll catch up in a moment, Galenus thinks to his companions. Then he gets out of the wagon and approaches the family talking to Choster. He brushes his hair to the side with his hand, hoping to calm the stray hair. He wants to make a decent impression.
He clears his throat and asks, Trying to leave the Peak? What's the rush?
Sharla s going to stay near Galenus.
Galenus & Sharla
You emerge from the carriage, glance around and decide what you wish to do first. Approaching the front of the carriage, you hear a slight 'Eeek!' as a little girl, holding the hand of a human woman, sidles behind her mother. The parents look over at the two approaching adventurers, and pale.
The man of the group speaks. "Aye, we're leaving. And now isn't soon enough. I'll not stay in this cursed town any longer, and subject my family to its horrors." he looks between the two, lingering more on Sharla, guarded.
Galenus & Sharla
Choster looks at the family's startled expressions, and then at the hooded Sharla. "She's just a changeling. Just treat her like any stranger, yea?" he says, annoyed.
"An' I'll not be leavin' right now. If'n you want to go, fine, but give my horses time to rest."
Varus and Anders
Approaching the Cup and Dice, the halfling scoops a large wheel of cheese into his arms, and off balance heads inside while complaining backward at the half-elf.
"If you can't clear away this horrible thing, then I'll be run into poverty! People don't come here since the death, even my own wife won't emerge from our rooms!"
Varus and Anders
The half-elf, young of face, with dark hair, a short goatee and a grave, exhausted manner opens his mouth to reply with what is clearly a well-practiced, and eternally ignored explanation, when Anders calls out to him.
He turns around, looking as if he expected yet another townsfolk to ask the impossible of him, and notices the two approaching adventurers. His manner changes slightly at first, exhausted annoyance to confused, then to shocked realization, then to a nearly giddy relief.
"Hail..!" he says, stunned. Then he tries again, with more energy, his face breaking into a cautious yet sunny smile. "Hail!"
He says, waving you over eagerly.
As you near Springhand, maybe five paces away from the front door, a vision flashes in your head.
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You are drinking. You are quite drunk. A wooden cup, well worn with use fits easily in your large, human hand. Your hand is rough, calloused. A working man's hand. Dirt has clearly been gathering under your fingernails, and has largely been ignored. What's the point of cleaning it? It'll just be back tomorrow...
You take another drink, and ask for another. The inside of The Cup is fairly busy tonight. People chat at nearly every table. Some gambling is done, some other games are played without the exchange of money. You think about going back home, about finishing the next cup and just stumbling back home drunk to your family.
It's too much... It's just all too much. Your finger the packet in your pocket, and finish the cup just as another is placed in front of you by a cheerful halfling woman.
As she turns, your head spins and you realize if you don't just do it, if you don't act now, you'll lose your nerve. You pull the packet free form your pocket, open it and let the crushed herbs fall into your new goblet. You drop the packet on the ground and drink deeply before you can second guess yourself again.
It needs to be done. They can't hurt your family if you are dead, nor will you suffer anymore.
Almost immediately, you begin to choke. As your vision swims, and people around you start to turn, alarmed, you fall from your chair in immense pain. Quickly, the burning in your stomach and the alcohol in your brain makes everything go black.
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As soon as it came to you, the vision is gone. You think only a moment has passed, but it takes just a brief moment to regain your composure after this memory of the dead's final moments.
Galenus steps in front of Sharla, to block the sight of her from the kids. I'm sorry if I scared you. Can you tell me what the curse is? Your priest put out a call for help and we've answered. Do you think you can stay for a few more days to see if we can help? Are their any problems at your own home?
Anders shakes his head violently to clear the vision, he turns to Varus, then to Springhand.
What the hell was that? We come to the call of yer letter, and ya fill our heads with visions of suicide?
Sharla gives a grateful look at Choster. She smiles, trying to look as friendly as possible at the townsfolk. "I think we can sort out whatever is happening."
"And I know some changelings are evil, or thieves, or murderers, but I'm not. I'm a performer! I can sing, and play, and dance. I'm performing somewhere tonight, if you want to come see."
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Varus holds out a calming hand to Arnders. Passions would run high at such a sight, but Varus was for-warned that the taint of Undeath was about, so his mental defenses were already primed and manned. A Meta-experience Non-Body Experience is indeed quite rare, but neither unheard of nor heaven-shaking. Varus would -like- to rail and stew and shout at such a thing, but even as a candle-boy he was trained that the community looks to him to be a beacon strength. He feels that lesson is now paramount, here, now, in this town teetering on the brink.
Varus blinks his eyes a few times, clearing the vision. Any fear he has is supplanted with concern for the living and curiosity for the dead. And determination for the task at hand. This must be DEALT WITH.
Varus smiles, ignoring his inner turmoil. "Hail to you, brother Springhand. As you have called, our lord Lythander hath heard thine words and sent me, his humble servant, to your call. Yea, though we are famished and dry from the road, it seems you have a problem that requires the most urgent efforts. So I leave it to you: Would you join our little band to explain thy troubles? Or do you council a headless plunge at the unknown? I would council the former as the problem seems that it will wait a full hour for our attention, but I know that situations that require the latter do exist.
Ah, but I forget my manners in my haste. I am Varus, brother in light of Lythander, and this is Anders, man-at-arms and skilled swordsman. We have two more companions that are currently, um...speaking to that family over there. I will let them introduce themselves. Shall we join them?"
Galenus & Sharla
"There, see? Somethin' to stick around for..." Choster says grimly.
Galenus & Sharla
"Maybe... We could see her sing? ... And dance?" the little girl says, peaking around her mother's skirts.
The parents give each other a look, and the husband softens slightly. "Alright Choster..." the woman says, picking up her daughter in a hug. "Rest your horses for the day, but tomorrow we'll require your services."
"Great! I'll be in the center of town. See you tonight!" She smiles again at the little girl before walking off to see Springhand.
Varus and Anders
As Anders blames him for the vision, Brayjio gives a compassionate look. "It was not I friend, but the reason I sent for you..." he says quietly.
Still talking with a soft voice, he continues, speaking to both. "Yes, let us meet your friends and talk. I have a place where I am staying, we should talk there."
Turning back toward the open door. "Slate, I'll be back to help you with your, err, problem later today! Got to run!"
He then lets you lead him over to your friends.
You pick up on some suspicious body-language from Brayjio. It's as if he eagerly, desperately wishes to speak with you lot, but every time you mention his need for help, he looks around to see who is near by. He is behaving as though he doesn't want any of the townsfolk to know what he is up to, or maybe he doesn't want them to know why you are here.
Galenus smiles at the family and turns to walk away with Sharla. That was good, I think. Wasn't it? We did good there, he says as he steps in line with his friend.
Upon catching up with his companions, he pleads to them, We have one day to do something - anything - to make this place a little better and a little safer. That man in the forest commuted suicide to escape. The boy Kelly wants to abandon his family's business just to leave. That family we were taking to was trying to flee as far as they could go. We have to do something that will make people feel safer. And we have to do it before tomorrow morning.
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Varus smiles and claps Galenus on the back. "Yes we shall! This here is the priest Springhand who is the purpose of our long, dusty journey. He says he has a place where we can finally meet and talk and lay out our plans make this town inhabitable again.
Brayjio, this is the mage-extraordinaire Galenus and the multi-talented and beautiful Sharla. You can see their desire to be of assistance in this hour of need.
Come, priest Springhand, let us retire to this place where you are staying. But soft, have you food and refreshment there, or shall we place an order at inn yonder and have them fetch us something?"
Varus seems to have taken over the introductions again in his haste to be past the formalities, but only because his anxiety to be about solutions is getting the better of him. He believes that the faster the five of them are talking and eating in a secluded place, the faster they can cut out the heart of whatever it is that vexes this poor town so.