To Alton's suggestion he says "Well, it could cause problems when they go to unload. But it also could provide us a good advantage if there is trouble." He shrugs. "If you feel up for it, you can give it a go. If they spot you you can perhaps feign distress and that you heard one of your friends is among the dead..."
Keildrithe adds his two coppers to the suggestion that Laithe makes to Alton: "Or, you might fein to wake all of a sudden, shocked and terrified to find yourself among the dead... accidentally loaded into the wagon by a careless soldier?"
With the likelyhood that Alton will also be separated from the group, Kajetan looks around at his surroundings taking in the detail of the land. Remembering back to his studies on city design, the scholar pictures in his mind's eye the probable lay-out of Lichford and the most logical alternate route in which Pharris and Nicolai would take to reach this building, if it would be their final destination.
You spot a narrow street leading back up the hill just past the building. If your bearings are correct, that street should lead back up to the cathedral square (and yes, turning you head to the right and looking up the hill you spy the spire of the cathedral looming over the rooftops).
The street you are on ends just past the plain building at a high stone wall. You think that this wall probably borders the complex of buildings behind the cathedral.
The lead wagon stops before the double doors and the driver jumps down and knocks. There is an exchange in Thuringian between the man and someone within, and then the doors swing ponderously inwards.
Beyond the doors, the lurkers catch a glimpse of a largish, partially covered courtyard, with a few other doors leading out of it, and what appears to be a stable to one side. A red clad soldier emerges from the gate and stands outside, keeping watch while the wagons make their way into the courtyard. He does not appear to see Alton atop the second wagon.
Pharris and DM:
"I might as well be useful," he mumbles to himself as he begins a short series of arcane gestures and utters a few incomprehensible phrases under his breath.
Once the spell is complete, and Pharris stops listening at the door, he whispers to her, "We can communicate like this for the next half hour. If you whisper a reply, I will hear it clearly, but only if you are replying to my whisper. It might be useful once we get inside."
Kajetan watches the wagons roll through the doors and into the courtyard, while also taking note of the appearance of a guard. He turns to his remaining companions, "Now we are three. As long as Alton stays close, I should be able to communicate with him for a time. Any thoughts on action or do we wait?"
DM/Nicolai
"Not now for the massage, Nicolai. Maybe later? I could try to get closer to him. Just to hear a few words. What do you think?"
Kajetan watches the wagons roll through the doors and into the courtyard, while also taking note of the appearance of a guard. He turns to his remaining companions, "Now we are three. As long as Alton stays close, I should be able to communicate with him for a time. Any thoughts on action or do we wait?"
"I hesitate... now might be a good time to conjure some mist and sneak in under its cover... but then what? Laithe, what do you think? Is it wiser to stay put and wait for a signal from Alton or the others?"
"My reservation would be the possiblity of drawing more attention to the area," the scholar states plainly. "It is reasonable that the church is on guard. A strange mist after the burning of part of the cathedral might turn a tense priest or guard into a zealot looking to place blame." Kajetan attempts to keep his gaze away from Laithe and the Druid's easily confirmed heritage, but the scholar's words stare for him. "I suggest we give Alton some time, and as long as I can communicate with him, we wait."
Pharris and DM:
As those on the street debate a course of action, the carts wheel into the courtyard, and the soldier closes the gates behind them (remaining inside the closed doors himself).
Pharris and Nicolai:
Alton:
You catch a glimpse of several men, including at least one in the red of a church soldier. You hear a voice speaking in Atuscan; “Take the bodies out – carefully please – and take them to the preparation room. I will be there shortly.”
Everyone except Pharris and Nicolai
He also pulls a small stoppered bottle from a pouch on his belt, keeping it easily accessible in case he needs to make a run for it.
To kaejatan he whispers "I'm going to follow the bodies to the preparation room, whatever that is. I might be out of contact, I don't know. I have a powder that should allow me to make a quick getaway if need be."
Our Group:
Laithe & Keildrithe (possibly Alton):
Alton:
He can see the legs of several men at the back of the wagons, unloading bodies and carrying them on stretchers in a direction that seems to lead further into the complex. To follow them, he realizes that he will need to cross open ground, a risky proposition given that there are several other people in the courtyard (the soldier, and several people, probably grooms, who are beginning to unhitch the horses) – but he thinks that if he is stealthy enough he can make it.
Kajetan, Keildrithe and Laithe:
Pharris and Nicolai:
The Padre returns into the room, and gazes for a long moment at the pair. He seems about to say something, but then falls silent again for a few moments. Finally he speaks. “The bodies have arrived and will shortly be ready for viewing. I warn you that what you see will be … unpleasant, more so if a loved one is amongst the dead. Take a moment to prepare yourselves, pray if you wish, then come with me.”
He waits for an indication that his guests are ready.
Nicolai:
DM/Nicolai
She slips back next to Nicolai, closing the door as she whispers, "quick he is coming, get massaging!"
Pharris and DM:
That's all he manages to get out before the door opens and Padre Kelly steps into the room...
Upon hearing Kelly's warning, Nicolai unruffles his cloak and composes himself, then purposefully takes Pharris by the arm, giving the Artonite a brief nod of understanding.
DM:
Laithe and Keildrithe:
Pharris and Nicolai:
The chamber beyond is a small ante-chamber, with a door to the right and a heavy, green felt curtain straight ahead. The priest pauses for a moment, his head bowed (possibly in prayer), then pulls aside the curtain and walks slowly into the larger space beyond.
This large room is double height, its exposed rafters and ceiling lost in shadow. About two thirds of the way up the walls are a series of windows to either side, letting in shafts of bright sunlight to that illuminate the chamber where they fall, but leave the corners of the room in gloomy contrast.
Another two doors lead out from this chamber, one at the far end, one to the left. In the centre of the room are a number of high stone benches, five of which are currently occupied by sheet shrouded bodies.
Kelly walks over to the bodies and begins folding back the sheets, leaving the heads and faces of the bodies exposed. The stink of death, decay, emptied bowels and burnt flesh hangs heavily in the air. Somewhere a fly buzzes noisily.
Two of the heads are severely burnt, skin blackened and flaking to reveal white bone beneath, features almost completely removed. Another is burnt also, not as completely but still badly, half of the face an unrecognisable mass of red raw flesh, most of the hair gone, one eye staring horribly.
The other two bodies do not seem to be burnt at all, at least not on the heads. Both appear to have been young, strong men in life, both bearded, one with the fair complexion of a Thuringian, the other a little darker, perhaps of Atuscan descent. The Thuringian man is very pale. There is a blood stain on the sheet covering his torso. The other man has an angry red welt on the side of his face and neck, with a small open wound at its centre. Something wriggles, and a small white maggot crawls from the wound to flop about on the stone slab.
"Something is not right," Kajetan says to his companions, "and I fear we will soon find out what. Someone is coming. Most likely trouble for us. That mist may be needed soon. If we get split up, let us meet back at that small square by the statue. If you start the mist, I can change myself and hopefully blend in. My suggestion to you two is to have Laithe change and Keildrithe, ride him fast during the confusion. Unless you have another idea. Should we make our move now or wait and see what is coming first?" Kajetan tenses, peers around, then faces his companions.
"I do like your idea of changing yourself to resemble a priest, Kajetan -- will your spell change your vestments as well as your face? We could be your "informants" from the as-yet untamed Karandic highlands, sent as special envoys to Lichford to help intercept fugitive rebels that have caused havoc in Barg?" The bard can't help but smirk at his suggestion. "But yes, I have a bad feeling too," mutters Keildrithe. "Something's not right... that pauper with the nice boots and wolf mask... This couldn't be some elaborate ambush designed by Vorn, could it? If it is, then we have the choice to await potential capture beyond the walls, or to throw ourselves into the belly of the beast by initiating your plan. Either way, we should momentarily step into a side street, else some bystander will see you transform yourself and might blow the whistle... any more news from Alton?"
"I do like your idea of changing yourself to resemble a priest, Kajetan -- will your spell change your vestments as well as your face? We could be your "informants" from the as-yet untamed Karandic highlands, sent as special envoys to Lichford to help intercept fugitive rebels that have caused havoc in Barg?" The bard can't help but smirk at his suggestion. "But yes, I have a bad feeling too," mutters Keildrithe. "Something's not right... that pauper with the nice boots and wolf mask... This couldn't be some elaborate ambush designed by Vorn, could it? If it is, then we have the choice to await potential capture beyond the walls, or to throw ourselves into the belly of the beast by initiating your plan. Either way, we should momentarily step into a side street, else some bystander will see you transform yourself and might blow the whistle... any more news from Alton?"
Laithe has been standing somewhat at a loss at how to proceed, clearly out of his element in the bustling town. Spotting the man with the boots as Keidlrithe points him out he hisses quietly "Not Vorn, but Atrek! Remember you took his clothes Keilrithe, so he would have needed to buy new boots..."
Thinking quickly now, he nods at Keildrithe's suggestion to get out of the open and begins moving into cover. As he goes, he whispers "Kajetan, I might take you up on the plan under different circumstances, but I fear Keildrithe is correct and we should hold off. Your magic will come in handy if we need to escape quickly, as will the fog I can summon. Tell Alton of our situation before the connection is broken and urge him to flee if he gets in any trouble. Perhaps we should try and see if the man in the wolf mask is indeed following us? Perhaps we should don our masks once more?"
Laithe has been standing somewhat at a loss at how to proceed, clearly out of his element in the bustling town. Spotting the man with the boots as Keidlrithe points him out he hisses quietly "Not Vorn, but Atrek! Remember you took his clothes Keilrithe, so he would have needed to buy new boots..."
Keildrithe freezes as Laithe's words sink in. "I hope you're wrong, my friend, but I now fear the worst. Quick, into an alley, and ideally one where we can easily gain the roof tops if need be... Kajetan, let Alton know what's going on..."
Those on the street:
As you made your way from Pardoner’s square to the Cathedral earlier, you passed through a number of back alleys, and noticed here and there rickety external stairs up to the upper levels of buildings or their roofs – you imagine you will probably find the same thing here, although there are none such visible where you are standing.
DM/Nicolai
"Wha- whe- .... appen t- ..-im?"
DM:
Pharris and DM:
"Padre Kelly, what happened to these two?" He shudders as a maggot crawls out of the last man's facial wound, then continues, "It almost looks like they got caught in a fight with something nasty, not just a fire..."
Nicolai puts a half-hearted attempt into consoling Pharris, then looks over at Kelly and waits for a reply.
Keildrithe and Laithe:
For Alton (at DM’s discretion), Laithe & Keildrithe:
Kaekatan
Laithe and Keildrithe:
Kajetan looks to his companions after fading from the conversation and tilting his head for a moment, "Alton is looking for a way out. Into the alley, then let us decide our next course of action."
Keildrithe nods in agreement. "While we're in the alley, perhaps we should take up defensive positions, just in case the Artonites should try to corner us there. Perhaps we should gain the rooftops right away? That way, we might be able to keep an eye on potential pursuers, and also on whatever might be going on around the cathedral, if our vantage point enables us to do that. What do you think, my friends?"
Laithe and Keildrithe:
Keildrithe nods in agreement. "While we're in the alley, perhaps we should take up defensive positions, just in case the Artonites should try to corner us there. Perhaps we should gain the rooftops right away? That way, we might be able to keep an eye on potential pursuers, and also on whatever might be going on around the cathedral, if our vantage point enables us to do that. What do you think, my friends?"
"Good thinking!" Laithe replies, and immediately looks around for a suitable ladder/set of stairs where they might be able to stay out of sight and watch the road below.
"Mind you, if it is Atrek, we will have to watch out for his bird friend, which acted as scout for him last time."
Laithe, Keildrithe, Kajetan:
Alton:
Laithe & Keildrithe:
Kajetan makes his way into the alley and readies himself to make the climb to the roof. At Laithe's warning, the scholar looks to the sky and any surrounding mountainous regions, judging possible migratory routes that would normally give large raptors updrafts of wind to allow smoother flight.
DM
Ash, you have one heck of a memory!
Laithe looks up at the stairs rising above, a little daunted over the climb. "These could do..." he says to the others, but pauses before ascending. He creeps back to the corner and listen for any sign of someone approaching. Assuming he hears nothing obvious, he will peak around the corner to take a quick look.
Laithe looks up at the stairs rising above, a little daunted over the climb. "These could do..." he says to the others, but pauses before ascending. He creeps back to the corner and listen for any sign of someone approaching. Assuming he hears nothing obvious, he will peak around the corner to take a quick look.
Listen check: 10 + 8 = 18. Spot check 12 + 8 = 20, Move Silent: 8 + 3 = 11. Guys, being non-climbers, I don't really want to climb the stairs unless necessary, hence the checks.
"I must've had too much ale at the inn last night," mutters Keildrithe, "as I totally forgot that Atrek had a bird."
Kajetan (and Keildrithe and Laithe):
Apparently it is. Flying quite high above, Kajetan spots the unmistakable silhouette of a bird of prey, wheeling against the clear sky. And, above that, high above is another speck which may be a winged shape also – a second bird?
Meanwhile, Laithe creeps about, seeking signs of pursuit or danger. He can’t see anything out of the ordinary. Somewhere, from a nearby building rises the muffled sound of yelling, and from further afield the distant sound of someone playing a trumpet.
Alton:
Up and over, back onto the street, which is all but deserted apart from a clerk hurrying along carrying a stack of scrolls barely sparing you a glance, and a black cat that startles as you hop down from the wall and springs away down a nearby alley.
Now to find the others … a whisper to Kajetan should do the trick.
Pharris and Nicolai:
“I have yet to ascertain the identity of these three with certainty,” he says, gesturing to the three burnt corpses, “but I believe them to be three missing librarians. These other two,” the unburnt bodies, “were guards charged with patrolling the square in front of the cathedral and library at night. Their bodies were discovered in the antechamber at the library entrance, one of the few parts of the building mostly spared by the fire. It was violence that killed them, not smoke or heat.”
He fiddles with the star of Arton hanging about his neck, and looks thoughtful for a moment. “Now I am left with the mystery of how and why they were killed … as well as the mystery of why so many people, including a few Karands, seem so eager to view the bodies. I wonder if it has anything at all to do with the messenger that arrived in a great hurry to speak to the Proctor a few hours ago…?”
Mothman, Kajetan & Keildrithe:
Flying quite high above, Kajetan spots the unmistakable silhouette of a bird of prey, wheeling against the clear sky. And, above that, high above is another speck which may be a winged shape also – a second bird?
Meanwhile, Laithe creeps about, seeking signs of pursuit or danger. He can’t see anything out of the ordinary. Somewhere, from a nearby building rises the muffled sound of yelling, and from further afield the distant sound of someone playing a trumpet.
Laithe moves back to the stairs where Keildrithe and Kajetan await. "I can't spot anyone following directly, but I can hear some yelling coming from a building nearby. I'm a little worried Pharris and Nicolai (or Alton) might be at the centre of it, though can't tell from this distance. Given the lack of obvious pursuit the roof might not be the best option. I think it might be worthwhile checking out the yelling."
Laithe moves back to the stairs where Keildrithe and Kajetan await. "I can't spot anyone following directly, but I can hear some yelling coming from a building nearby. I'm a little worried Pharris and Nicolai (or Alton) might be at the centre of it, though can't tell from this distance. Given the lack of obvious pursuit the roof might not be the best option. I think it might be worthwhile checking out the yelling."
Nicolai had a familiar didn't he (which was circling earlier)? One of the birds might be his.
"Yes, I believe that Nicolai hinted that the golden hawk was keeping an eye out for him. As for the yelling... yes, it could very well be Pharris and Nicolai... but what can we do about it? Knock on the doors to the cathedral complex and ask the guards to let us in? Should Kajetan change his form into that of a guard now, and lead us, loosely bound, as his prisoners into the complex?"
Pharris and DM:
He pauses briefly, then shrugs, "Not that I'm trying to impose. I'd just like to offer my assistance if it's desired. I have some experience dealing with nefarious sorts."
He waits quietly for a moment, digesting the new information, then perks up, "A messenger? That certainly could be of significance. From where did you say?"
Nicolai/DM
Pharris moves to one wall and turns her face away. "This was not an accident, the fire could be to cover up what happened to Tadarosh, if that is my Tadarosh, I find it hard to tell for sure. Doesn't look much like him now, does it?"
Laithe and Keildrithe:
Pharris and Nicolai:
“As for the messenger, well …” he seems about to say more, then shakes his head slightly. “I did not say.” He looks over at Pharris. “Your nature loving friend – would that be the wild looking Karand in the square, who was so interested in the bodies?” He pauses, although it does not really seem that he expects an answer. He leans forward suddenly, and lowers his voice. “Be careful of the company you keep,” he says.
He straightens up, and looks back at the bodies, before moving slowly around and begins covering them again. “As for ‘your Tadarosh’ I think you can be quite certain that he is not amongst the dead. His cousin,” he gestures to Nicolai with his gnarled fingers, “showed no sign of recognition of him, and I am fairly certain that neither of those two,” meaning the unburnt bodies, “go by such an outlandish name. And as the other three are almost certainly priests, I do hope you do not mean any of them. If so, make your peace with Arton – I do not wish to hear the details.”
He finishes covering the dead faces, looks about, and shivers slightly. “Now, if that is all, I have work to do.”
Kajetan and Alton:
Kajetan suddenly hears a whisper in his ear, as if the Halfling is standing right next to him. “I’m out, standing outside the gates,” he says. “Where did you all go?”
Kajetan, Keildrithe, Laithe:
DM/Nicolai
"I am more concerned about my missing man now. But you have been very helpful. I am sorry for your loss," she adds waving at the corpses.
Pharris and DM:
Nicolai waits by the door for Kelly to lead them out. On the way, he adds, "Padre, would you pass a message on to Stefan when he returns? Could you tell him that Nicolai was here to see him and that I'll be staying in town for the next little while. I'm an old friend and have some personal news to share with him. It would be much appreciated."
As they walk out, Nicolai keeps an eye out for a window. If they pass one, he'll discreetly whisper to Pharris to distract Kelly and will take a good look at the sky to try and spot the creature Wijk'An was warning him about.
Alton:
Laithe and Keildrithe:
Kajetan moves back towards Laithe and Keildrithe, “I am still in contact with Alton. He is back out on the street and hopefully headed towards us. I say we wait for him to join us, then we move down the alley. Maybe Pharris will be acting dramatic, and we will hear her. She can be quite loud when she wants to be. Either way, I believe we need to move soon.”