Tyr dismounts and makes 'quiet' motions to his companions.
"There is something strange afoot. I hear no bird song."" He whispers, trying to draw his companions attention to what he has noticed.
"I agree, there is something unnatural about the area around that hut."
Perception:
Eseldra casts detect magic, looking for magical fields that might exain things.
At Karthas' words, Hiram quietly slips from his saddle, drawing his bow and an arrow, and begins to concentrate on the hutt, mumbling softly.
Cinders also dismounts. She takes out her crossbow and loads it. "We should proceed with caution," she says quietly.
Jamison spits, dismounts, and nods.
Ayup. Ah ain't too quiet, though. If'n ya'll are tryin' t' be quiet, Ah'll hang back.
Weapons drawn, the companions warily scan the clearing in the unnatural silence.
Eseldra's spell does not reveal any magical fields, and Hiram detects no malevolent auras.
The ruined hut stands silent, it's open entrance a gaping maw into the shadowy interior as the day's light fades.
Tyr nods at Jamison's words, his full chain-mail armored suit would also be a give away to any stealthy approach. He slowly draws his great blade though, ready to lumber o others defense.
Nodding, Hiram waves at the others to get their attention, and signals that he will move around the other side of the hutt. Like any good hunter, he stalks around to get a different angle on the hutt.
Motioning to the others.
"Look there, above the doorway's lintel. There's a fist-sized spherical stone that appears to be inscribed with the faint images of an iris and vein-like tracings. Does that mean anything to any of you?"
Cinders peers closely at the stone.
"I'm sorry, it's unfamiliar to me."
or +1 more if Nature is appropriate.
"Hmm...."
Hiram frowns to himself as he stalks around the backside of the hutt, thinking about Karthas' question.
A chill breeze blows across the clearing as the sun finally drops below the horizon. Other than the scraping rustling of the branches of the trees surrounding the clearing, not a sound can be heard except for the snorts and shufflings of the companions' mounts, who stand bunched together at the clearing's edge and glance nervously at the stone hut.
Well? What's the deal? Someone gonna make a move? Jamison says as he begins the gestures for the Light spell.
Know (Religion):
"Not sure I like the looks of this place," Euron remarks, still mounted on his elk. "Certainly nature parts it's way for whoever or whatever lives here."
The druid holds his ranseur tighter, looking for a decision from the group on whether to simply mark the location of the hut, or to investigate it further.
Karthas draws his greatsword from the scabard slung across his broad back.
"Let's go have a look. Everyone be on your guard."
The Kellid begins moving quietly toward the hut.
Stealth:
Perception:
The interior of the hut is enshrouded in darkness in the evening twilight. As you crowd in, the magical light on Jamison's greataxe illuminates a scene of ancient wreckage. A collapsed table dominates the center of the room, and the ruined remains of a couple of chairs and a sleeping pallet can be discerned in the detritus strewn throughout the room. A cracked cauldron rests on its side in the remains of a firepit.
As the you gaze around the room, you are shocked to discover a humanoid skeleton impaled on one of the crumbling walls. The limbs are held in place with iron spikes driven through the very bones. What appears to be a ceremonial dagger with a blade made of razor-sharp obsidian and a cat's-eye stone set in the pommel pierces the skeleton's sternum and the stone wall behind. The skeleton's limbs are badly disfigured.
Written in blood, a faded message remains on the wall:
"She failed me. She is Gyronna's now. I cannot afford delay, my love. I travel south to our monastery upon the hillside. I hope you join me for the ritual."
Hiram concentrates on the dagger, trying to sense any taint of evil.
"I do not like the look of this place," Cinders mutters.
Heal (aid other):
Jamison shrugs. What's t' like? Some bad stuff went on in here, no doubt. We sh'ld give this poor soul a proper burial, that's fer sure. Everybody seen all they want to?
After the party is done with their inspections of the body, Jamison will begin to remove the spikes, and will dig a grave using the Enlarge Person and Shovel technique he employed back at the campsite. He will bury the body after conducting the Erastian rites.
"Not a lot to like, indeed," Eseldra mutters, picking her way carefully through the debris, also scanning with detect magic.
Tyr stands guard at the door, watching the parties back. Casting his gaze over the animals and keeping a wary eye on the surrounding country side as night deepens around them.
Knowledge (Arcana) check:
"This dagger is enchanted, but I cannot make heads nor tails of it's arcane persuasion. Might mean it's abjuration or enchantment. Somebody else able to give it a try?"
As the companions inspect the impaled skeleton and the obsidian dagger, Tyr stands guard at the door. The wind has picked up and the temperature has dropped noticeably now that the sun has gone down, reminding everyone that early Spring in the northern River Kingdoms is still a very cold time of year. The horses, mules, and elk remain standing bunched together at the clearing's edge, as far from the hut as they can get. Niko paces near them, whining as he repeatedly looks toward the hut.
Other than the obsidian dagger, no items of any value can be found within the ruined furnishings and detritus strewn throughout the hut. Jamison removes the spikes holding the skeleton to the wall, and then digs a grave and buries the skeletal remains in accordance with the Erastian rites. With the grim task completed, the party is left with a decision: Search for another campsite in the dark, or stay here and camp within either the hut or the clearing.
"Well, time waits for no one."
Hiram stretches and flexes to get the cold out of his muscles.
"No sense in going somewheres else this late...might as well stay here. I'll volunteer to stay with the animals over yonder, and me an' Euron can split shifts. That ok? Then the rest of you can stay in here or set camp close by..."
Fine by me, Hiram. Here, ah'll set an Alarm at the front door so's you don't have tuh watch it so closely.
Jamison utilizes the Alarm spell he's prepared to ward the area of the front door, attempting to catch as many windows as possible within the area of effect as well.
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
Cinders shakes her head. "I don't like this place," she says. "I will camp outside and help Hiram with the animals."
Tyr shrugs.
"It seems to late to seek out a different camp site, but splitting the party is also bad. We should stay together and protecting the horses...um...and other things seems the best idea." He moves over to where Cinders and Hiram are and helps set up tonights camp.
"I agree with Tyr, we shouldn't split our group, particularly in unfamiliar territory."
Adding a bit late to the earlier search, Euron remarks that the discovered dagger reminds him of the one on the bandit woman Kressle.
Once outside, the druid nods agreement in resting for the night before they press on.
The party sets up camp on the far side of the clearing from the ruined hut. Jamison wards the area in which the companions sleep with his Alarm spell. Thankfully the night passes uneventfully, although no one rests well due to the disquieting presence of the ruined hut - the stylized eye above its door seeming to glare at them through the darkness.
Scattered clouds moving in from the west greet the companions as the chill morning dawns. The companions quickly and quietly gather up their gear and depart the disturbing clearing.
The group makes their way back to the wide, slow stretch of the Thorn River - the only potential crossing point they have encountered south of the ford at which the bandits were camped.
"Let's keep moving...we have to get to the other side of the river sometime, and now is as good of time as any."
Swim:Take 10 (17)
Swim (mount):Take 10 (13)
Perception:
Survival:
Cinders nods. "I agree. The river looks easy enough to cross." She approaches the river, kneels down and tentatively touches the water with her hand. She withdraws it quickly and hesitates for a few moments. Then she stands up again, removes her robe, folds it up and places it in her pack. The others can notice burns on her arms and neck where her skin is visible. She takes a deep breath and wades into the water, leading her mount behind her. As the water rises to high to walk, she switches to swimming.
Once she's reached the other side, she takes her robe back out and dons it again.
Tyr frowns at the river, though he calmly follows Cinders lead.
Hiram dismounts to attempt to cross the river.
[+1 skill, -2 encumberance]
Sputtering as he exits the river, he shivers slightly as he tries to calm the mules. They calm easily, but Hiram still seems nervous about losing his balance and going under in the middle of the river.
Eseldra takes 10 and gets a 10 for her swim. Her horse also takes 10.
Then she starts using prestidigitations to dry people off and suggests they could do with a half hour warming themselves with a fire before proceeding with explorations.
Euron grins as he sees his companions swim. Shooting Niko a sidelong glance, he remarks, "Glad to see we found some friends who ain't afraid to get wet!"
Swim:
* -2 to the above for the mwk hide shirt.
Once across, Euron walks over to his elk, and pats down some of the water from it's fur. Niko seeks out a spot in the middle of as many people as possible before he begins to shake violently, spraying drops of water everywhere. With the others shocked looks at the animal, the wolf stretches and yawns innocently.
On the far side:
Survival:
Percept:
Tyr frowns at the wolf, even as he goes about removing and then checking his chain-mail.
*sigh* "This stuff is a problem to keep clean and stop rusting." He comments quietly, though not really talking to any one.
Jamison pulls his breastplate off before swimming to the far side, packs it on his mount, and slowly but carefully makes his way across the water, leading his horse.
4Dx: ;
The party successfully makes its way across the wide, slow stretch of the river, with only one slight mishap when Hiram loses his balance and goes under for several moments in the deepest water. Even with the slight delay caused by the river crossing, the companions make excellent time mapping the area on the eastern side of the Thorn River. The party finishes their exploration in the northern reaches of the area just as the sun reaches its zenith.