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a thick mist covers Greywater this morning, the bustle and murmurs of crowds gathering in the streets in distress outside the Crimson Oar Tavern near the town entrance. The large Hyena man Gnashbone, pushes his way through the crowd gathering, a crowd i will assume you all are part of.
Everyone Disperse, the city watch will take over he Barks loudly. A contingent of Harpies gathering around him, Go now, scout the swamps we need to find who did this With that order Several Harpies fly off leaving the Guard captain with a dead body, though not of anyone any of you recognize. the old wood of the Greywater docks creak under his step as he paces back and forth muttering What to do, What to do?
"Ah Greywater. A most quaint little town by all observation, though it's the first glimpse of civilisation I've seen in a long time-
"Quiet!" a voice to his right hisses " Captain of guard is speaking."
"Oh?" Zheng poses, inquisitive. He leans to further hoping to catch a whisper of the ongoing drama. Instead he get an elbow to the ribs for his trouble, shoving him back on to hard wooden planks. Zheng flails his arms, trying to regain balance, bumping into strangers as he falls.
"so much for civilisation" zheng mutters, as he sees the hound of a captain pacing about a distance away
Ikkit watches the gnoll pace back and forth, there might be an opportunity here.
Ikkit will approach the Gnoll and ask, "Who's the body Capt'n?"
Targan will just stay close enough to watch and listen for now.
No clue Ikkit, reeks of undeath and necromancy though. we'll see what happens when the scouting party gets back
Seka stood among the crowd; her cloak, with its custom slits, billowing around her shimmering, silver wings.
"Captain, may I be permitted to draw closer and attempt to determine how long ago death occurred?" The Plumekith's melodic voice cuts through the general noise of the remaining crowd.
If so permitted, Seka steps forward and kneels down by the body, examining it with a critical healer's eye.
Sure but i don't see how knowing the age will help us The gnoll let's you through to look at a decrepit corpse, only skin and bone left. You can tell the corpse must be at least 3 years old.
Ikkit asks the gnoll with a squeak, "Undeath you say?" He shivers a little, "Not good, not good at all."
He hesitates for a second and continues, "Is this the only one or have there been others?
Sure but i don't see how knowing the age will help us The gnoll let's you through to look at a decrepit corpse, only skin and bone left. You can tell the corpse must be at least 3 years old.
Seka simply smiled at the gnoll's shortsightedness and proceeded to examine what remained of the body. "From the decomposition, the body is at least three days old," she uttered aloud before growing silent to hear the Captain's answer to the question posed by the one called Ikkit.
Meanwhile, zheng gets up and dust himself off, resolute to try again. He approaches a dwarf, trying to get more information on the whole situation.
"say, you happen to know anything about what's going on?" he asks the dwarf. You find his attitude a little overbearing.
"No." Targan replies without interest. More concerned with observing what's happening around the body.
Probably shouldn't tell this to civilians but there have been other sightings deeper in the swamps, minor ones they've never been this close to the town. I would handle it but it's a bit of a trek and i can't afford to be away from the town for that long. i was going to gather a bit of information before announcing to the town but, i'm going to start looking for mercenaries. A group who can take the trek on behalf of the town and put an end to it.
Targan perks up when the Captain mentions mercenaries. "A group to look into this? I'd be up for that."
"I'll do for access to the local Smithy's" Zheng adds in.
"Should probably get to forging"
Fire works on undead, Ikkit thinks as he considers his alchemical tools at his disposal. Not going to be easy, nope not at all, he thinks as he hears the dwarf volunteer. Before he can stop himself he blurts, "I'd be interested in looking into this matter also Capt'n."
Targan gives Ikkit a friendly grin 'Someone who won't give me a sore neck to talk to.' He thought happily. "Welcome aboard."
She certainly wasn't a mercenary, but she could assist the party in searching the swamp and surrounding wilds. "I offer my services, as well, Captain," the Plumekith remarked as she cast her opal-hued eyes about the small group.
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the gnoll Look to Zheng, The local smithy doesn't belong to Greywater, it belongs to the smith . i'll put in a good word but that's about all i can do for you there Gnashbone looks to the rest of the group Excellent, saves me a lot of work. I'll go get the paper work squared away. You four can start by looking into this He hands Ikkit a map, That details the location where we first saw the undead, i suggest starting there. Should be roughly 2 days hike from Greywater. But before that theirs a matter of payment, we could work out a sum of gold, or the mayor is also offering a free place of residence for the mercenaries that solve this.
"welp, a good word is better than no words at least,I'm sold."
Ikkit looks over the map, sharing it with his new found companions. He suggests, "Best we get what gear we might need and meet back here in about an hour."
Targan returns with a bulging backpack, it doesn't seem to slow him down. "Sooo. Gold or a roof over our heads? I need gold, but who knows how much we'll find on this trail?"
Ikkit returns with his gear and sees Targan standing in front of the Tavern.
"Gold is always good," Ikkit responds to the dwarfs inquiry as his nose twitches with excitement.
If it's gold it won't be much, 1000 pieces maybe 1500. in total That's about all the city can afford for now The Gnoll captain comments sitting at a table outside the Crimson Ore filling out paperwork, a large pint of amber liquid in hand.
"Sounds good Captain.' Targan nods, "What about this place of residence that was mentioned?"
it's an old building, kind of rundown. Needs some work, right near the edge of the Market District on the eastern pier. Used to be a storage house for supplies while the city was being built. All the storage and trading is handled on the northern pier now. The mayor would rather it be re-purposed in stead of just toppling it.
She looked over the map with the others. The Plumekith had her pack and weapons with her, so she was ready if they were to head out immediately or within the hour as the one called Ikkit had decreed.
Within the hour, the others returned to the table outside the Crimson Ore. The talk was of reward and she had no preference over one or the other.
"I, too, would hear about the offered residence", she added to the Dwarf's words.
As the Captain of the Guard spoke of the abandoned building that could be used as a place of residence, the Plumekith nodded as they would need somewhere to stay and make plans when they were in town.
"It would be a good base for our party when we are in town," she offered to the group.
"Aye, just what I was thinking. If we pick up enough gold on the trail it would be good to have a place of our own."
"Wait.I hardly know any of you well enough to be willing to share a place of residence, and between the alchemist and I" he gestures towards Ikkit's alchemical vials "It'll be dangerous enough as is! I say we decide after we finish this little hunting trip and get to know each other a little better."
"We weren't deciding anything yet lad. Just discussing what might be?"
"Well said, there will be time enough later to sort out what reward we might receive," Ikkit advises his companions.
He continues, "Speaking of getting to know one another better let me introduce myself, I'm Ikkit Claw, alchemist by trade."
"Eh I've never been one for decent pacing.I'm Jokulmorder Zheng, aspiring blacksmith from the far north. Pleased to be of your acquaintance."
Seka nodded upon the Dwarf's words to the Human.
As Ikkit and Jokulmorder made their formal introductions, she smiled and made her own, "Well met. I am Seka, druid, and, scout among my druidic circle."
Greetings to you all. Targan Blacklock. Locksmith and trapmaker. Good to meet you too."
as introductions are being done a lone harpy lands near by collapsing, Sir,they're coming...an army. the harpy coughs, several bloody patches coat her wings. it looks as though they were hit by arrows. a small scroll rolls out of her claws, Gnashbone picks it up unraveling it. Immediately turning to the collapsed harpy checking her vitals.
The gnoll expels a loud breathe, Thank the gods,she's still alive. I need to get her to a healer. You four get moving, things just got serious! The undead seem to be coming from Brinewall castle, or the ruins of it at least, the scouting team saw a man raising the dead and then retreating into it's walls. They saw an army approaching the city...
you recognize this as Aryllia
"Crud nuggets," Ikkit mutters to himself. He takes a deep breath and suggests, " We better hurry then. Seka since you are a Druid and a scout perhaps you should take the point."
Targan gives Aryllia a worried look, hoping she will be alright. 'The Captain's doing what he can for her.' So far the Captain has impressed Targan, both in his prompt actions and his concern.
He prepares and readies his crossbow. "I'll follow behind the scout." He offers.
At the information of the incoming Undead army, Seka checks she has her weapons close and ready and takes the sickle to hand for now. "Ikkit, you will guide us with the map," she instructed the Rat man alchemist.
Then leading the small party out through the gates, she heads in the direction of the first location the Undead were spotted to start from there. As she walks, Seka begins to softly cast in Celestial, calling upon Gozreh to grant her the gift of his divine guidance. She utters the spell a second time as she moves with sure steps forward, eyes keenly gazing the surrounds.
Zheng shrugs and joins in the party wherever there's a free slot, looking somewhat uncomfortable with all the sudden structure implemented by the party. He walks with his mace drawn, juggling it as the party moves in a slow rotation, and catching it by its ugly mishapen head.
The party leaves through the small gate guarding the city, thanks to Seka's knowledge and ikkit's map you know of an alternate way to the ruins not currently on the path of a undead army.
The tree's and forest surrounding you smell of death and decay. many of the tree's graying and petrified. You spend most of the day walking, coming to a small lake clearing, it begins to grow dark. You figure your about halfway there now.
Targan suggests we camp, not thinking a double march and arriving fatigues is a good idea.
"Well I'm fine with camping out, as long as I can take first watch. I'm not putting on my armor a second time or waking up early."
He throws his pack down.
"we should be taking watch anyways. This place gives off bad vibes."
Looking down at his sore feet Ikkit responds, "Oh yes, stopping to camp would be most welcome." He collapse in a heap on the ground and lays there for a second before getting his gear out for the evening.
While he is getting ready he says, "I don't care which watch I take, just wake me when it's my turn." Once he is done arranging his gear he grabs a quick bite to eat and goes to sleep.
Targan will take the middle watch.