Adriel tosses open the floor hatch from inside the building, it reveals a crawl space under wood framed house.
Astrianna looks down at the raised planks with a sack over them, and raises an eyebrow. "Odd."
Directing her floating lights towards the ceiling, the bard looks over the ransacked smithy for anything of interest.
The shop looks like someone was in a hurry grabbing stuff when an interruption occurred.
Astrianna crosses her arms, looking over to Adriel. "Whomever was in here last wanted to get out in a hurry. What's down the trapdoor?"
Astri when the trap door is opened by Adriel you hear Bri's voice and squeaky male response but you are not able to make out the words spoken.
"We're not going to hurt you. We've heard rumors of a were-shark and came to investigate. I thought perhaps it was the monster itself that had crawled under the house."
Bri speaks out a bit loud so that the others can hear.
"Stand down guys, it's just Relgin. No monsters here yet."
Speaking back at her normal voice she will ask him: "Would you care to come on out and let us know what has been going on here? We've found a blood trail. Is there someone else here that is injured? I do possess some healing skills if so."
You can see a few gashes on Relgin, he shakes his head, "They...'um...they ...'um left. They came back but left. T...twice now they've been here." He stammers. "Thought they'd not come back, but they did." He begins to cry. "The man-shark that killed his cousin’s wife and abducted Jessica. I...I...i was 'fraid to tell the dragoons w..what happened and I hid. They took Harok." He breaks down.
Noticing Embri kneeling and talking to someone, Chell moves to stand next to her. "Hello sir. My name is Chell. These people were sent by Father Zalen of the Church of Quell. I am a priestess myself and if you'll come out I can take a look at those wounds. And maybe once you have settled down and had a bite to eat you can tell us more. Okay."
Astrianna relaxes a bit as Embri reveals it's simply Relgin. "He probably thought we were coming to rob him, given the time of night. And... the window..." She remarks to the elf.
The half-elf stands by the trapdoor entrance with Adriel. She says down the trapdoor and into the compartment below. "You can come back through the trapdoor, Relgin. We just have some questions."
"F..f..father Zalen, really? He's a good guy, d..don't hurt me...please." He is in distress, shock, and he's basically confounded. He beings to craw out from the access panel, not he trapdoor. The simple man trembles, he is clenching a small bag in his hands, the outline of a few tools can be seen poking the burlap.
Chell moves inside to see to his wounds. "A true smith I see. Went straight for the tools of your trade first," she says, smiling at how he protects the bag. She puts down her pack and starts pulling out first aid equipment, letting him come to her if he wants to be looked over.
"Perhaps we should escort Relgin to the ship after he tells us what else he may remember. It may be safer for him there."
"I wasn't b..brave 'nough to tell the dragoons about the man-shark, a..a..and they arrested Harok. I..I came back to see if Jess w..was here and t'get my tools." He is shaking, "but they came back...he points to the house where the blood trail was located. [b]"Grymmer Reefstead, always hated Harok cause Harok's a better fisherman. I saw him talking to the shark-man." He blubbers uncontrollably.
After a few minutes he continues, "the man-shark told Grymmer to take the girl and keep her hidden until ‘the basking’ whatever that means" he shrugs. "Grymmer grew up in an abandoned fishing cabin a half-mile further up the coast."
Hearing the voices move outside, Astrianna starts to make towards the door of the smithy. "Adriel. While they're playing mother nurture, let's check out the other houses. The one to the north had a blood trail leading into it."
Stepping outside, Astrianna pokes her head around the side of the shop. "Adriel and I are going to look at the house to the north. Call if you need any help." Emerald eyes glance at the trembling man. He's seen more than he can handle. If we buy the Rita, he can get a fresh start in Shaw. The dark side of her mind that enjoys telling her all the fun ways she can break the rules chimes in. Too bad he's not dead, you could have forged a note saying he bequeathed the Rita to you with his dying breath... free ship!
The bard mulls over the thought as she heads to check the other house, dancing lights following above her head.
"Relgin, do you want to wait here for us to return or would you like to wait at the ship on the dock while we investigate up the coast?"
"Can you tell us anything more about Grymmer or the man-shark? Do you know how many came and where they might have come from?"
Adriel casts DETECT MAGIC and casts an enchanted eye around the smithy. If this man had any skill there might be a decent weapon or armor about...
He moves over to Astri before she leaves, Hold a bit. We should check of he has been completely ransacked first, then we can check the others. Just a sec...
Astrianna waits for Adriel, raising an eyebrow at the elf when he casts detect magic. "He's a simple backwater blacksmith.. But if you find any lingering auras from this shark-thing, or some kind of fetishes or the like, tell me."
The bard occupies herself by looking over her torn sleeve, holding it together with two fingers and determining the best way to sew it back together.
"Excuse me. What are you doing?" Chell asks the elf as he sweeps the smithy. "I already looked for evil auras and there are none here. Whatever attacked him is gone."
"Can you tell us anything more about Grymmer or the man-shark? Do you know how many came and where they might have come from?"
"Gymmer hated Harok...worn enemies...all cuz of fishing." He shakes his head vigorously, "No...just look like Gry is workin' with the other."
He nods his head up and down, "yes mame..I'll be happy to go on the boat if you let me get a few things that I came back for." Looking at Bri.
Adriel you don't see anything magical in the shop, he has has barrel of nails and tools that he has made for the fishing hamlet. Useful items for their daily life.
Adriel finishes his inspection and moves outside, motioning to Astri.
Can never be too careful...
He continues to hold the spell active and heads towards the other building Astri pointed out. No point in stealth now. They had moved past that point.
Astrianna gives Adriel a nod and moves to the nothing building, following the blood trail. She pounds on the door with her fist before attempting to open it.
Abandoned fishing cabin half mile up the coast, if he's to be believed.
Astri and Adriel you look in the next house and find there is dried blood there but the furniture is not overturned. You there is small cloth doll laying on the bed but there is no sign of life. Nor does it radiate magic or evil, if it did at one time the aura(s) have faded.
Bri will give him a moment to gather his things and then escorts Relgin back to ship.
She will also address the young woman with them. "You may be safer aboard the boat as well. As you heard, we are about to track down a were-shark."
Jenke and the Captain nods to Relgin. "Is that the little girl?" Pointing to Chell. "You ready to leave, this place gives me the willies." The first mate comments.
Astrianna walks over to the doll, a sad look momentarily crossing her face. She picks it up, emerald eyes staring for a moment. This must be Jessica's. She turns to Adriel. "Nothing here but dried blood. Guess Grymmer was on friendly enough terms with this shark-thing. Let's find his fishing cabin." The bard places the doll in her haversack as she exits the house, meeting up with the rest of the group.
"Nothing in Grymmer's shack." She looks up the coast in the direction Relgin indicated. "Relgin, is the fishing cabin accessible by sloop, or do we need to walk?"
"Fresh water pond" He shakes head, "It's inland a bit. It is not accessible by sloop.
"Sadly no Captain. We are going to walk up inland a bit to another cabin that she may be at. I know this place seems incredibly creepy right now, but we can't just leave the poor girl alone out there."
Astrianna nods at Bri, beckoning the group. "We'll return in a while, Captain. Come on everyone, let's get moving." Waggling her fingers, the bard's Dancing Lights reappear and she begins walking in the direction of the cabin, looking for any trails to follow. "Should only take us a half-hour or so of walking."
Chell blushes in angry at the Captain. "I...I am no child sir. I am a grown woman and a priestess of the god that watches over your ship. And I am going to help track down this beast for it is only right to do so." She then huffs and spins on her heel, walking away after the others.
Bri can't entirely hold in a snicker at the newcomers indignant reply to the first mate and captain.
"Reign in the temper. I'm sure they meant no offense, add in the darkness and the bit of drink they've had and mistakes happen. Just like it is a mistake to assume that the cabin was clear just because you checked it for "evil auras". Though this were-shark is likely evil, not everything that kills is. There are a good many beasts that would rip out your throat for food, yet they are not evil. They are simply surviving in the way they were created too."
Bri will continue walking with the others in the direction that Reglin pointed them towards and hopes that they will find the young girl at the abandoned fishing cabin.
You follow the small dirt road out of town and are able to spot the trail to the fishing cabin where Relgin mentioned it was located. What is unusual is the lack of sound from wildlife as you turn onto the small dirt path. The path is in a canopy of trees that blocks any of the moon light, so it is pitch dark.
"Well in those cases the creature can be dissuaded. Only evil creatures attack just to harm others. And drinking was never allowed on duty on my father's ship. Too dangerous."
I'm in front keep the light low so I can use the shadows. Astri second, Sorrin stick close to Rose if we get hit at the back. If I need you up front, run towards the smell of sulpher and the screaming.
Adriel renews the light on Sorrin's blade then dashes out to 30ft from him to get in the lower light and moves from cover to cover. He keeps Thrasher with him this time.
After the trail is located, Astri follows behind Adriel, pointing out trail in case he loses sight of it. The bard keeps her dancing lights active, the four cool balls of light floating above their heads.
As they walk, she glances around the surrounding forest with concern. "No frogs... no mockingbirds... disturbingly quiet. It doesn't take a druid to realize something is wrong. Is it fear that silences nature's songs...? " She mumbles, mostly talking to herself.
She looks to Adriel. "That crazy tulita man we saw earlier today at the docks- He was rambling about the mark of the shark or something. I wonder if he would know more about this basking? Though we may be able to... persuade... some answers out of Grymmer."
Whether from nerve or to fill the night with some noise other than their own footsteps, Chell begins to hum a tune you can easily recognize as Drunken Sailor.
Astrianna turns her head towards Chell as she begins to hum Drunken Sailor, and she listens for a moment. I've heard worse.
The bard begins to hum along with her, providing an improvised harmony to the song.
when you turn off the dirt road and make you way up the path, you think you hear a cracking stick but your eyes only see the brush and trees.
You believe you see something move behind a bush about 7 feet off the trial, you wonder if is that a tip of spear?
Seeing as this is the first sign of noise from the forest Chell freezes in line, listening hard and peering into the darkness.
Bri sighs and whispers to Chell: "Don't make it so obvious you heard you heard something. Let them think we aren't expecting anything."
Bri glances over at Adriel and Astri to see if they give any reaction to show that they heard or saw anything.
"Them? Who is them?" she whispers but keeps walking.
Astrianna stops the harmony and looks back at Chell curiously. "Hmm? Why did you stop? I was enjoying our song..." She comments, turning back to look forward along the road, making a game out of trying to spot Adriel in the brush.