Ok, unless someone wishes otherwise, we head back and visit with the nixie to give her the feather tokens(tree).
"HAte roads." Telias grubles.
Zorestar awkwardly bids the dryad farewell with a strange bow as he struggles to not look at any nakedness. "Umm thank you kindly for the err tree nuts err tokens. I hope to umm see you again some time, err I mean to meet you and visit and umm not to just gaze upon your wondrous beauty. I mean, you obviously have a beautiful body, not that I have been studying it, but just at casual glances, or with my peripheral vision. I can clearly tell you are a perfect specimen of femaleness, if you know what I mean. Umm, have a nice day, or err more."
Later on the way back home.
"Hate roads." Telias grubles.
"But you must admit that it is far smoother traveling when you do not have to navigate around rocks, bushes, streambeds and ditches. From my observations, Master Telias, you are a difficult man to please."
"Nope." Telias says matter of factly. "Jes hard ta impress."
"There's something to be said for a fresh meadow, untouched by civilization."
Jameson rides with an easy air that has been missing lately. The mantle of responsibility slips off him easily and the content he feels in riding for pleasure is obvious on his face.
Seeing James ride off, Carina mounts her steed and spurs her onward while sticking her tongue out at the wizard as he attempts to turn his large and unwieldy wagon around in the area near the nixie's grove (or the dryad's tree, not sure which we just left).
"Civilizations just seem much more . . . well. . . civilized to me. Nature is fine to observe, but it is not exactly hospitable to live in."
You spend the night at the Dryad's place, seeing how as the travel will not get you too far, so you start up early the next day. Making good progress you manage to arrive back at the water Nymph's location where she awaits for your gift, if you wish to give her the feather tokens.
My Lady of the Water, we are back with gifts. Since you were so kind as to let those men reunite with their families, we'll offer these in thanks.
Offering the small magical tokens, Bronwyn continues.
In our lands, what you give is what you get, you'd do well to remember that. Kindness is paid with kindness...
Hoping the fey will understand his subtle threat, he smiles to take its sting off as he offers her a sip of his wineskin.
The Nixie is pleased to see you bring her the feather tokens and immediately begins using them, producing fully grown trees in a matter of seconds that take up the previous tree's locations and bringing this place back to it's glory.
"I thank you for doing this ask for me and what you have done for the forest. As a reward I will keep on the look out for anything that may threaten your nation."
With nothing else to do here, you continue on your travel down to your kingdom. You make a stop by where the Gnomes are and they appear to be packing up and getting ready to leave and move on.
After some hard travel you manage to arrive back into your kingdom at 9pm, but a patrol manages to come across you. The majority made up of humans, but there are a few others like a kobold, hobgoblin and the captain is a humanoid with a few minor beastial features which is a bloodline of the Aasimar related to the Agathion's, known as a ldyllkin.
"My lords and lady, thank the gods you've arrived!" she exclaims as she steps forward and removes her helm, revealing long flowing blond hair which somewhat compliments her shining skin and bestial eyes and ears. "We've had a few murders these past few days and we are afraid the culpret may strike again. We haven't found out who it could be as there have been so many people immigrating here or travelling through. One was a young shepard boy named Beven and some of his sheep flock and the night before..." she stops for a moment as she looks towards Ganit "...A maid named Saki. Both deaths were violent and happened at night, we're afraid that it'll happen again tonight and have doubled up our patrols to try and catch the culpret. Whoever it is, it's smart enough to evade us and catch the towns people outside the city, but it tears them to shreds. In my years on the guard I've never seen such a mess in any city. We'd be glad if you could look over the remains of the young boy nearby and see what you can discern from it. Most of we have heard in our investigation is that the sound of howling wolves have been heard during the night, but wolves couldn't have escaped us witout knowledge.
Hearing what has happened, Carina is appalled. Torn to shreds? This does not sound like murder, it sounds like some beast. The questions is what type of beast?
Carina turns to look at the druid and the wizard: Would either of you have knowledge of what could cause this? We have already had warnings of this Winter Wolf's attacks. Do you think this could be the Winter Wolf? Or something connected to this arctic nightmare?
Jameson quickly moves to check on his patrols.
"We'll need a curfew until we solve this. Double the size of the patrols, no man goes anywhere alone. One goes to the outhouse, his partner helps. Any questions?"
"We don't know, m'lady. We've been trying to figure out what the creature is. Most of what we found it the creature that did it was man-sized animal like a wolf or warg, but the townsfolk have been muttering the word Werewolf and tonight is the last full moon. If it is indeed a werewolf, we'll need to catch him tonight." she sighs and looks to Jameson, giving a firm nod. "Yes sir, we'll get to that immediately, but we don't have enough men to double the patrols and patrol for the curfew, but we will try our best."
Telias's beard bristles a bit at the mention of werewolves. "Yep, get those round here. NEver heard of em bothering too many folk."
The corner of Ganit's scarred lip twitches to a sneer when the aasimar names Saki as another victim. "Go wake the alchemist," he commands a nearby guard despite his lack of any real authority. "Gonna need silver if ya plan t'kill the b#*+%. N' if ya wanna do it right, get the blanch n' have him melt it to the guardsmen's arrowheads. Git too close an that wolf'll pass its sickness onta ya. We'll wanna put her down at range else more weres'll be springin' up next month."
Damned Gods'll take anything you get close to. You were right to leave Gwen and the boy.
"Take me t'where you found the last victim," he tells the Guard Captain. "That wolf so much as pissed in the wind, I'll hunt it down."
"Ah better go wit ya in case ya piss yer breakfast in da wind and muck it all up."
Carina looks at the grumpy pair:
While we need to head to the castle and see to the issues that have arisen while we were gone, I think that we should stay together for at least a few minutes to see whether we can find this killer.
She then looks to her husband, the travel adverse wizard and the big general.
Lets see what our trackers find, rid our land of this evil, and then get back to our homes for the night.
"Lupus lunæ is a strong possibility, especially since it coincides with a full moon tonight."
"Tell me, mam, do you know of any people who tend to look a bit feral and have wild hair? Perhaps they have eyebrows that have grow together, or maybe an index fingers longer than the middle fingers. If not that, then perhaps a strange birthmarks on the palm of the hand? These are all commonly accepted indications that a person is in fact a werewolf. However, we must still exercise discretion for said telltale signs are not always accurate for such physical traits exist in normal people as well. However, I thought it might give us a place to start."
"Lets see what our trackers find, rid our land of this evil, and then get back to our homes for the night."
"I think your suggestion is a splendid one! Going home is always a welcome event!"
Overhearing Carina and Zorestar's exchange Ganit stops mid-stride and turns back with a look of incredulous disgust. "A 'welcome event'?" he repeats, emphasizing each syllable with a cold delivery. "A woman and a child are dead. Their bodies savaged, shredded n' strewn about yer city... A welcome event."
Pointing to Zorestar, "This one calls it a 'Welcome Event' n' this one can't wait to get back to her royal chambers t'see if she missed anything important. Pfft! N' I'm the callus one. Bet you'd take it differ'ntly if it'd been some fairy frog or a damn pixie squirrel but no; it's jus a dumb kid and serving wench died screaming as their limbs n' guts torn from the rest of 'em. Y'all go back to playin' Lords n' Ladies. I'm gonna go kill yer murderer."
I need a f@!!ing drink...
With werewolves it's a curious case. The most common are those humanoids who were bitten or otherwise cursed with lycanthropy. Those who suffer this curse often live their day-to-day life not knowing that at the night of the full moon they become blood-hungry creatures that tear and devour any creature the come across, intelligent or not. Only on rare occassions they remember what they did, but often the memories come up as blurred images and screams.
There are also those who are born with the curse. These can control the transformation and do not require the full moon. Like any other humanoid, they choose their own path and ulike those afflicted, or fully responsible for their actions.
Often those afflicted will have a few minor issues such as being found wondering half-naked after a night of a full moon with no memory as to where they were. Same can happen from those that drink and when you ask about this, the guards do mention there is a barbarian lad who recently came to the city. He was often seen entering the city from the north gate early in the morning wearing rags and unable to recall what happened the night before. This was often seen as drinking too much as his breath came off quite rancid, but they never held him as he didn't have any blood on him.
Silver weapons are capable of peircing their hide and you know by keeping the citizens inside, the beast will prowl the streets looking for a kill as there will be no easy targets. If this beast is a afflicted one, it will fight to the death no matter the numbers it os up against.
Carina looks to Zorestar and frowns:
This is not a science project or research. A mother and a child lost their lives. These are our citizens and we are responsible for their safety. My intention is to defeat this monster. Once it is dead, I hope to get a good nights rest.
She then turns to look at Ganit, her blue eye and her red eye blazing hot and cold:
Would that your people skills were on par with your hunting skills. I am not playing Lords and Ladies. I am the Duchess, I am the ruler of this land. I will see that this creature is caught or destroyed, whichever is necessary. Any who would harm the good citizens of this land, whether they be human, humanoid or fey, shall pay for their wrongdoing. I shall do whatever is necessary to destroy this monster. Once we have destroyed this, then yes, I will enjoy an good night's rest in my comfortable bed. However, on the morrow, we all shall likely be on the road again. We have a young child to rescue and we have a wolf that breathes cold to destroy.
You are welcome to go in the woods and drown your sorrows in whatever cheap drink you can find, but just remember, that killing yourself will not help this nation and it will definitely not help the woman who loves you or your child.
Carina turns and again looks toward the road and then toward the rest of the group: Now, lets find this werewolf or whatever it is and eliminate its ability to harm the people of Vertaria.
"Save the speeches fer someone desperate 'nuff t'listen. More important things t'be wastin' our breath on."
As he starts to follow behind Telias he hesitates and lets out a short but heavy sigh. "The boy, Beven, weren't Saki's. She didn't have no family here. She..." The ranger's grey eyes slink to his boots. He forces down a dry swallow before continuing, "She was a good gal. Sweet. Kind. Foolish little thing. She didn't deserve this. Neither of 'em did."
Realizing how pathetic he must sound to the others, he clears his throat and partially acknowledges the last of Carina's insinuations. "If I wanted t'kill myself I'd be dead already. So rest easy when ya put that pretty little head a yours on them plush feather pillows."
The tone in his voice suggests that this might not be entirely true.
Trailing behind the Guard Captain and the Druid, Ganit steels himself in anticipation for the sight of his time and again lover, Saki.
"Don't know bout that wizard but ah think he can dig his science project out from its ashes after ah find it. Don't mind dem folks when they keep their distance and mind themselves. But can't abide them that forget they're men."
Know nature.
Sense Motive:
As usual, Carina is not really paying attention.
"Maybe when you two are done arguing about how to stop this killer we could get around to actually stopping it? We've lost a few so far, and that is terrible, but the longer we talk here the longer the killer has to keep killing."
You are escorted to the last victim's location of where they were first found and it takes sometime, but Ganit finds some tracks of a large wolf standing on it's hind legs. The tracks appear to lead to a nearby copse of trees from which they do not emerge. However, a set of bare human footprints lead out of the trees and toward the town, but they become obscure once entering the town due to the large traffic of people, though you can tell with your sharp sight and training that they do belong to a male who, due to the impact left on the ground, suggest he is well built. It seems as if he merely walks back into the city with no attempt at trying to sneak either.
As it grows darker and the moon shines brightly, you swear that you hear a loud howl in the night, but you are uncertain where it came from.
Overhearing Carina and Zorestar's exchange Ganit stops mid-stride and turns back with a look of incredulous disgust. "A 'welcome event'?" he repeats, emphasizing each syllable with a cold delivery. "A woman and a child are dead. Their bodies savaged, shredded n' strewn about yer city... A welcome event."
Pointing to Zorestar, "This one calls it a 'Welcome Event' n' this one can't wait to get back to her royal chambers t'see if she missed anything important. Pfft! N' I'm the callus one. Bet you'd take it differ'ntly if it'd been some fairy frog or a damn pixie squirrel but no; it's jus a dumb kid and serving wench died screaming as their limbs n' guts torn from the rest of 'em. Y'all go back to playin' Lords n' Ladies. I'm gonna go kill yer murderer."
"What are you doing point at me?! My good sir, you clearly misunderstand me if you think that I am calling murder by a lupus lunæ a welcome event. I was simply referring to the universal feeling one gets when returning to a place they refer to as home. Naturally the familiar setting and the comforts of home do much to enhance this appeal, especially if you are not particularly comfortable riding on the back of a horse when a coach is not available."
"However, now that you mention this murderer, we clearly need to put an end to such activities. Now, if you do find a lead on this investigation, I am only too happy to help with the capture of this particular lycanthrope. Furthermore, I am only too happy to volunteer my time to assist with any necessary research or investigations to follow up on this heinous crime. I trust that you know that only silver weapons are capable of peircing the hide of a lupus lunæ and naturally, by keeping the citizens inside, the beast will prowl the streets looking for a kill as there will be no easy targets."
"Now, lets find this werewolf or whatever it is and eliminate its ability to harm the people of Vertaria."
"I hope you clearly understand that it is my intention to assist however necessary in this matter with the lycanthrope?!"
"Don't know bout that wizard but ah think he can dig his science project out from its ashes after ah find it. Don't mind dem folks when they keep their distance and mind themselves. But can't abide them that forget they're men."
"I am not exactly performing a science experiment. It is simply research done to help understand the cause and cure of lycanthropy. However, I will admit that if you choose to burn the lupus lunæ, it will be difficult to determine if the creature was a natural born lycanthrope. You see, the most common are those humanoids were bitten or otherwise cursed with lycanthropy. Those who suffer this curse often live their day-to-day life not knowing that at the night of the full moon they become blood-hungry creatures that tear and devour any creature the come across, intelligent or not. Only on rare occassions they remember what they did, but often the memories come up as blurred images and screams.
There are also those who are born with the curse. These can control the transformation and do not require the full moon. Like any other humanoid, they choose their own path and unlike those afflicted, are fully responsible for their actions.""Often those afflicted will have a few minor issues such as being found wondering half-naked after a night of a full moon with no memory as to where they were. This information can help in determination of guilt. You see, if the perpetrator is fully aware of his action, it is clearly a criminal charge. However, if the perpetrator is not at all aware of his actions, then we are dealing with a social issue that may require a bit more understanding."
Carina looks to the others and then to the guards: Have there been any reports of people acting strange? Perhaps the culprit is as Master Lebada described it, a person unknowingly afflicted. If this is so and we could catch the person before they transform, then we can imprison the person for the night. If we are right, the werewolf will be secured. If we are wrong, then we will be out patrolling anyway and will have less potential suspects to investigate.
"Iffin da wizard right den ya might be havin more then one werefolk on yer hands."
Bronwyn stays back to have a quick word with his friend.
Did she... Have any family? If there is such, I would like to see them protected enough to deal with this issue. The boy's too.
After hearing the probably-rude answer, he tries to reassure Ganit's confidence.
All right. Let's just focus on finding this bastard and finishing this once and for all. You could track a falcon in a cloudy day, get me this f~*%er.
The guard do tell you of one man who came up in their investigations. They were about to go interrorgate him when you arrived. He is a new arrival. A Kellid tribesman who has a room at the local inn and drinks himself into a stupor every night. He's been seen coming into the town from outside in the early mornings looking bedraggled and quitt the worse for wear.
The inn is still reserved and they were going there to ask around, but from the sounds of it, the killer is already on the loose so it's best to look for him now.
"Bedraggled and in a drunken stupor is not the best criteria to judge if a man is a werewolf, but it is also not a bad place to start. Clearly the mornings will be rather difficult after an evening of eating and mauling people."
"I see no reason to wait. We have a suspect, let us pursue him."
Sadly the half-orc is far too busy enjoying the stares as people admire Donal prancing through the streets, and fails to notice anything else.
Perception:
Blind as usual, Carina helps search the city with her husband.
"I kinfess! I kinfess! Ima grouchy bastard who shifts inta animals and walks inta town bedraggled and pisst!" Telias throws his arms up in mock surrender his massively bushy eyebrows raised high in mock fear.
"Did she... Have any family? If there is such, I would like to see them protected enough to deal with this issue. The boy's too."
"Like I said, she got no family here. Don't know bout the shepherd boy."
"All right. Let's just focus on finding this bastard and finishing this once and for all. You could track a falcon in a cloudy day, get me this f&%#er."
"Aye," Ganit replies simply and starts for the inn. The bard's enchantment gave him a brief reviving sensation as it set it. Ain't whiskey but it'll do fer now.
Bronwyn stays back to have a quick word with his friend.
Did she... Have any family? If there is such, I would like to see them protected enough to deal with this issue. The boy's too.
After hearing the probably-rude answer, he tries to reassure Ganit's confidence.
All right. Let's just focus on finding this bastard and finishing this once and for all. You could track a falcon in a cloudy day, get me this f~%#er.
"None that we know of my lord, but the boy had family. We have been attempting to guard everyone as neither of them appeared to have any connection we could see." the guard states as she bows and stands up straight to show her devotion.
The guards join you as you arrive at the Inn. The Inn was about to close up as the word had gotten around town to start a curfew, but you are allowed inside immediately.
The owner, a large and friendly fellow smiles as you enter.
"My Lords and Lady, how may I help you?" he asks as he smiles to the group.
Before arriving you swear that you could see something shadowing you and the group. You didn't get a good look, but whatever it was, it's built and when you got to the inn it ducked into the shadows.
You noticed it enough that you know it's hairy and was carrying a battleaxe in it's hands. It's eyes were also reflecting the moonlight and you swear for a moment that instead of a face, it had a muzzle like that of a dog.
Zorestar let's the others do the talking while he looks around the common room for anybody with bushy eyebrows and/or long fingers who might have contracted lycanthropy.
Ganit holds his tongue until he and the other(s) enter the tavern. Ignoring the owner he whispers, "Bastards been shadowing us."
Like any hunter, Ganit had been prepared for something like this. Inside his quiver were ten arrows he had blanched in alchemical silver days after being attached to this farce of an assignment. He coolly slips one from repose and laces in his bow without regard for how the dwindling tavern dwellers would react.
"Best do sumthin quick b'fore it looses inter'st in us."
'"Bastards been shadowing us."
"Who are you talking about?" Zorestar whispers in reply. Are you certain?"[/b]
No one in the inn appears to match Zorestar's description, then again it's so vauge as some people may just naturally have bushy eyebrows and everyone here appears to trim their nails, moreso then others in some cases, but no one with both long fingernails and bushy eyebrows.
From your perception, you are certain that he's shadowing you because everyone has gone inside as part of the curfew, however there is always the fear that someone nearby might step out for a few minutes and that would be more than long enough for the creature to be ontop of them.
"I knew searching for lycanthropes by looking at distinguishing features such as bushy eyebrows would be a futile task." Zorestar mumbles to himself. "Maybe, I would have better luck finding out who likes to eat meat around here." Zorestar comments half jokingly. In the end, he goes up to the barkeep and makes the inquiry, "Excuse me, good sir, could you kindly tell me which of your customers prefer meat to vegetables and purchase said dishes with greater frequency exclusive of children who naturally do not like their vegetables?"
The inn keeper says that most men are like that, including a newcomer named Kundal who he sometimes catches entering early in the morning looking dishevaled and disturbed, but quite a few customers have been known to look like that, only recently it's been a concern with the recent killings.
"Where'd our shadow go? Did you scare him away Zorestar?"
Jameson seems uneasy without Donal, even though the horse is a few short feet away. As always it seems odd to see the man unmounted.
"Where'd our shadow go? Did you scare him away Zorestar?"
"Who me?! I didn't do anything. I mean I am being as discrete as a set of discrete numbers. I just made a few inquiries about people with bushy eyebrows and long fingers. I did not mention the word werewolf at all. So did you actually see somebody shadowing us?"
Carina stays near her husband knowing that her abilities are less suited to stealth and tracking. However, she stays prepared for when the werewolf is found knowing that her skills will be needed at that time.