"It would be best to return their bodies to their family. Endurant-bound as well, Eli?" Poterol begins helping wrap the bodies in cloth and putting them on the cart. "Let us hope that their families will be able to take them for the proper rituals and rest."
"I just pray for the people in Endurant to be ok..."
Natanja glanced across at Poterol and his instant change of heart in laying the dead to rest. So, they would carry the three dead imps and now transport five dead people, as well? Natanja silent shook her head at the her kin's lightning-fast reversals when it came to decisions and ideas. Who knew if this Ellen's family were still alive in Endurant... Watching Poterol undertake the wrapping of the bodies without asking for assistance, Natanja (with Oko on her shoulder) moved to her mule and mounted.
Handing the reigns of her horse to one nearby, Arabeth as well dismounts and helps prepare the bodies for being settled in their wagon and thence taken to the group's destination.
"Very well, Sister. If you believe that is a good idea, it seems fine to me." Eli replies to Shyness.
"Sister," Eli says to Shyness, after a while, "I have reconsidered. Before you go, look well and mark the speed of the creature - as you know well, unless it was mounted it cannot extend its legs at its full speed. In that case, your skill should be able to determine: if it is a mount alone, I request we leave it be and stay together to go to Endurant together. If it is mounted, however, we may all go together to search - in any event, the trail is a day old or more, it seems, based on the time of their death, and not even your speed would be able to make up that much time - in that, Lesith and the horses may be more useful, though they lack your tracking, and I would that we not send them away just yet. Consider: five people lay dead. While you are certainly powerful, I would rather not take the risk with few." he explains, emotionlessly.
Azmaria looks to Aeryth, I'm sorry to hear that, perhaps now is the time to both make new family, and new memories, as well as discover what was lost. I am sure God has plans, and this all is for a purpose.
Assuming we are going to probably make a habit of discovering corpses, I'll make a note to buy a prayer book so we can lay the dead to rest more quickly than this. Chap helps hoist the last body into the cart and then lifts herself up into the cart to. We'll ride with them. Their wounds will serve as more proof that the ones responsible have no way to escape the judgment that is coming for them. Good can continue even after we have left this world for the next, they will have their justice.
Old lucky can pull the cart since I wont be riding him.
Azmaria was riding along half listening and half in her own thoughts.
Riding up alongside Vincent The only family I ever had was at the monastery for the Holy order. We looked out for each other, and we comforted each other when things looked bleak, and believe me, things looked bleak lots of times when battling the demons of hell is a daily occurrence. When all of this is over, If you want, you can come back to york with me, we have room at the Monastery, at least you will have place you can call home from now on.
She smiles a heart warming smile providing reassurance that her offer is sincere. besides, I am sure many of the sisters wouldn't mind a cute boy staying in the monastery.
I will think about it, as he turns to look down the road.
I have reconsidered. Before you go, look well and mark the speed of the creature - as you know well, unless it was mounted it cannot extend its legs at its full speed. In that case, your skill should be able to determine: if it is a mount alone, I request we leave it be and stay together to go to Endurant together. If it is mounted, however, we may all go together to search - in any event, the trail is a day old or more, it seems, based on the time of their death, and not even your speed would be able to make up that much time - in that, Lesith and the horses may be more useful, though they lack your tracking, and I would that we not send them away just yet.
Marius had stayed silent, considering the options, but finally speaks up. "I... agree with Eli. As much as I'd like to follow the trail and hope that someone escaped this attack, Endurant itself may be in danger. And if someone did escape, it is likely they fled towards Endurant anyway. In either case, though, we should make haste." He grabs his mule and swings himself up into the saddle. "We've shed enough tears for the dead - let's ride before it's too late."
Upon more careful examination of the nearby tracks, Shyness can tell that the horse was full-out running, and the best guess on direction seems to be 'away'...
It is unlikely it could have stretched its legs that far with a mounted rider.
So, after examining the gruesome crime scene, Eli hitched his mule to the cart, Poterol wrapped the five bodies in some of the cotton cloth, several of you helped lay them in the cart on top of the other bolts of cloth, Chap climbed up on the cart bench, and Shyness determined that the lone escaping horse did not likely carry a rider.
And so, you continue on your way along the road to Endurant.
Lesith keeps on the front, looking up the road, in silence.
** spoiler omitted **
"I'm still here aren't I?"
Eli turns to Shyness. "Thank you, sister. I respect your ability, but I do wish us all to be safe."
Thereafter, much like Lesith, Eli travels in silence at present.
Marius returns to the front of the group, disheartened by the scene they'd discovered. Hopefully Endurant had not suffered a similar fate - though a pit forming in the bottom of his stomach feared the worst.
Unlike before, Poterol stays mostly silent. He keeps pace with the wagon, occasionally offering prayer for the slain. He and Merry occasionally look around the group, trying to gauge the mood.
You continue along the road to Endurant, bringing a backpack of three imp corpses and a cart of cloth, supplies, and five human corpses wrapped in cloth.
You don't notice any other signs of danger or scuffles along the way yet, but after another half hour or so, you notice the scent of something burning or burnt carried on the breeze.
As you get closer to Endurant, it grows stronger, and you also notice a slight haze in the air, that starts to sting your eyes.
Arabeth is withdrawn as the group continues on its journey.
As they draw closer to their destination and the haze and smell grows stronger she winces and looks to tie a cloth about her mouth and nose to limit the effect, though she has not eye wear to protect her vision.
"We should urge the mounts to a faster pace..." She suggests, though her obvious own lack of horse skills belays any such action from herself.
"Perchance many 'Create water' invocations might be needed?"
Natanja astride her mule, Oko perched and glowing on her shoulder, looked out over the haze of the skyline, smelled the smoke on the breeze. She did not turn away from the smell and her eyes remained bright and golden, searching out the horizon. The burning scent did not have an adverse effect on her -- in fact she seemed to be more alive than usual -- copper hair floating/crackling about her, golden eyes intense and joyful.
"The mules will only go as fast as their legs will carry them and animals are less inclined to want to run toward fire", she spoke quietly in reply to Arabeth atop her horse.
Natanja scanned the horizon in search of something -- some clue as to extent and purpose of the fire -- or other accompanying threat.
Stroking Oko's warm wing, she instructed in her usual husky manner,
"Oko, rise, and see from the sky. In Eth's name, we must determine the manner of this smoke and how far it spreads."
Oko lifted into the air -- her candlelit form glowing.
Eli continues forward, but places a stone in his sling.
"All, I believe we should both hurry, and be cautious instead of reckless. Weapons at the ready, but also ready to drop to rush and help others." cautions Eli.
How much could Oko communicate to Natanja? I think it's just strong emotional impressions, right? You don't get any sudden sense of danger from Oko.
Arabeth does watch Oko soaring into the sky for a moment, perhaps some brief wistful expression on her face.
Then the smoke and dust in the air brings her back to the moment and she moves her horse into a canter.
And manages to not quite fall off the slightly swifter moving mount.
"From what I can determine it is no longer a burning blaze, but more a burning remnant of a large wild fire or wood fire. Oko's emotions do not speak of imminent danger regarding the smoke/fire."
Upon Eli's instruction to draw weapon, Natanja whistled to Oko and the hawk descended and perched once more on her shoulder. Natanja gazed at Endurant and the smoky haze in the distance.
Natanja drew her masterwork morningstar and held the reins mainly one-handed (loosely in the hand holding onto her weapon), ready to move forward at a faster pace on her mule.
"What order do you want us in, as we approach, Eli?"
"Anything defensive, anything you see fit to do, really. However, if I may suggest, those who need to be most defended and least offensive perhaps towards the center with the wagon." he responds to Natanja with no trace of feeling.
As you continue along the road to Endurant, and as the burnt smell and smoke sting increase, you come to a large, hazy field of ash and debris, with a few strange, partial structures.
It takes you a few moments to realize... this was probably a village.
Only a few small fires still burn. Except for the soft crackle of the flames, it's eerily quiet.
Arabeth gasps in shocked surprise.
She moves to dismount, obviously intent on checking the scene out from closer at hand and helping in any way she can.
After loading the bodies on to the cart Kiwyn decided to ride along in the cart, so as not to be a burden to any of the riders. Sitting in the cart she used minor magics to clean the bodies and their clothing until something reached her nose.
Turning her attention forward Kiwyn bites her lip as she looks ahead at the hazy distance. The smokey tinge of the air belays her fears for the town.
Reaching the remains of what she realizes may have been a village. "Was... was this, Endurant?"
The little archaist steps down from the wagon and slowly begins to look around, trying not to let the thought of how many lives may have been lost here get to better of her.
"It seems we are unfortunately too late." says Eli dispassionately.
"We need to look for any hints and survivors. We may end up burying the bodies here. Let's go, cousins." No hint of feelings.
Eli dismounts and begins searching.
Azmaria tries to get a chance to look at these bodies as they were loaded onto the cart. If she can she looks for signs that demonic rituals were involved in these killings.
I know this is way to late, but if there is anything that she can contribute let me know, otherwise I don't know what else to do.
also lately in many of my games...my posts have been overlooked and I find myself being a spot on a roster and not a contributing player. so anything that can help sister Azmaria actually be useful is appreciated.
also just so you also know, I will fail about 85-90% of all skill checks so. regardless of my bonuses I will probably be useless cause of my dice rolls. actually had a DM give me reduced DC's to succeed at stuff just so I could actually do something besides get killed, or fail to notice everything, and be clueless on everything I am trained in.
Poterol moves to aid Eli in searching, his focus on survivors, even though it looks like the village was destroyed days ago.
Its obvious by his movements that he is shocked, never having seen anything like the destruction of an entire town.
Natanja dismounted and secured her mule to a shrub that was not smoking or presently on fire to the side of the small brush fires around the once-village.
Oko's golden eyes surveyed the fires and last vestiges of the village.
Natanja moved with graceful, methodical step around the small fires, attempting to discover anything of note.
She casts Detect Magic.
Natanja pondered her knowledge in attempt to understand the true reason for the village being burned to the ground. Was it by deliberate enemy hand, accident, or simply an act of nature?
"Do we know for certain this village is what is left of Endurant?" Her husky voice had a sound similar to the crackling flames around them.
Natanja looked keenly among the debris and surrounding area. She searched for fresh tracks leading to and from the village in order to figure out what had happened.
Marius heaves a heavy sigh as he dismounts. This was rather reminiscent of his other attempts at heroism - try to make a difference, end up doing nothing. The heavens were probably laughing at his misfortune. Maybe he really wasn't cut out for this kind of stuff, and really was destined to be a farmer or something.
Though reluctant, Rex follows Marius as he approaches the nearest of the burnt out buildings. Marius crouches down to inspect it, trying to determine how long ago the fires happened. Perhaps this wasn't even Endurant, but just another unfortunate village. Perhaps this had happened ages ago, and had nothing to do with their mission. Or perhaps this was done by a wildfire, and not by the demonic bastards they'd crossed paths with on the way here.
It looks like you also have access to stabilize at will now, which could be handy on any bodies you find, even before you determine for certain whether they are alive or dead. Post if you would use it as such. :)
Vincent walks along, keeping alert for any signs of danger when he gets a mild cough. His dismisses it, then he coughs a little more while his eyes start to sting. He grabs his waterskin and flushes his eyes a bit, in hopes of relief. It works for a moment, but not long enough.
He looks up after a while to see a field of ashen, blazing structures. He immediately grabs his dagger and shield. He uses the smoke and haze to blend into the background. He skirts around the edge.
Kayahidye would have walked most of the road from the earlier gruesome scene in silence, only commenting (based on what she had seen in the air earlier), that she fears this is not the worse they shall yet see.
Upon arriving at the remains of Endurant, she bows her head sadly, though still tranquil in her demeanor. "It appears it is too late for this little village, as our relative warned us." She looks around, coughing slightly at the smoke. "Though, cousin Natanja may be right, perhaps this only part of the settlement..."
In quiet determination, Kaya joins the others in searching for survivors, working as quickly as she can. She goes with someone who is able to summon water, and takes care only to avoid the flames.
Otherwise, she moves as quickly as possible in searching through the wreckage. Then speaking quietly with someone nearby, she says, "What do you think, cousin? Should we call out for survivors?"
Natanja has the ability to stabilise at will (orison) and will go about stabilising any villager she or one of her kin come across.
Mindful of what may be lurking among the debris of the destroyed village, Natanja informed her kin in discreet manner, "If you discover the body of a villager, let me know and I shall magically stabilise them so they do not keep bleeding out from their injuries and dying. This will give us some time as we work and search."
Speaking quietly with someone nearby, she says, "What do you think, cousin? Should we call out for survivors?"
Arabeth starts, as is waking from a dream.. Only to see the nightmare of reality that is....
"Oh...um...yes... "
Then she pauses and holds out a hand in warning, "There... might still be culprits about..." She warns and, now drawing her sword, begins to step carefully and cautiously through the wreckage and rubble.
"It seems we are unfortunately too late." says Eli dispassionately.
"We need to look for any hints and survivors. We may end up burying the bodies here. Let's go, cousins." No hint of feelings.
"Too late to figure out what was 'strange' in the village, yes. Too late too seek justice? Hopefully not."
"I say we fan out, in small teams. If possible, each group should have a healer, a fighter, and a spotter. We should move quickly, in case any survivors remain, and to see if there is anything to be learned before everything is ash."
Cernan follows after Kayahide, and gestures for Natanja to follow if she wishes. He'll primarily be keeping an eye out for possible sources of the fire—where it started, whether it seems set with torches or magic or alchemy, whether it was set in one or many places, and whether the village was evacuated at least partially before the fire completely consumed it.