Noct-coola... Strange... Teuni's nostrils flared as he sighed his holy symbol dangling as he looked around considering. It seemed everything was out to kill them, but in a cowardly way, he hated fighting weak things. The rain continued to fall, cooling his scales as he towered over the others outside the carriage. His long, slim red tongue flicked out to taste the moist air while he was deep in thought, considering the next steps. "All... Dis good. Strength wil' decide. So... We go to Vilger's hut eh?" He tilts his head as he speaks the question, because he was honestly lost as to what they needed to do.
Eekz listens to the chatter in a strange language and sighs, not knowing what they speak of, and lets the talk flow around him as he starts tuning it out. When it does come in common again, he has to struggle to pay attention to it...
"Bad place this. Eekz think we try fix? You think maybe find food and fix sick from big hut?"
He climbs down off the carriage and stands ready to walk up the road to Vilger's tower.
Listening to the little evil book burner, Sibee nods. "We can try to fix this evil place."
The tower in the distance is obscured by the hill, even as you approach. Faust collects himself and proceeds to take himself, and his carriage, and ride back into town. "Best of luck." is all he says as he tips his hat and makes for the other direction.
Collecting yourselves and making for the peak, you get on your way. The tower is actually only a part of a much greater stronghold. More than a stronghold, there are other things present as you venture into the opening of the outer ramparts. The greatest structure present is a two story fortress connected to the Ramparts. There are 4 other minor structures, 3 of which are only simple 1 story buildings. One appears to be a dome with dead plantlife inside of it made of glass, an Arboretum, it seems. The others are a squat, brick building with a chimney in the middle that's still spouting fumes, and a light is on inside. The third 1 story building is more of a shack, than anything. Finally, the last building is two stories, though nowhere near as large as the fortress.
Teuni bows taps his fist to his chest, saluting Faust as he departs he was now interested in these Mercy Men.
Once at the peak he surveys the grounds warily, keeping Chacta and Tal close at all times as he didn't trust their surroundings just yet. Too much death... He looks to the separate buildings and chooses the shack as his first choice to explore. "Shelter. Looking." He grumbles in common as he strides forward, arming himself with his bow as he made his way across the grounds towards the Shack. He was counting his steps and moving slowly, quietly observing his surroundings as he moved towards the Shack. Take that,
make shelter and explore other places.
He pauses to run his claws across the soil, the ground was still in good condition, despite Chief Vilger's death. He grunted, his red tongue tasting the air as he picked up his previous pace while continuing to head for the shack.
Siibee watches as the strange man paws at the ground. "We should start moving through the house and seeing where we are to stay." she says to the group that's standing around.
Eluvias nodded, as he looked about warily. He half expected something to jump out and maul them, given how ominous the rest of the realm had been thus far.
Pausing Teuni gives the others a warning before he delves into his exploration of the shack. "Thouga wer rimem tepohaic wielgtor wer ordah ui versvesh. Creolnali naktaic nomeno goawy." Seeing the others on the move and not quietly he decides to move more quickly.
"Though the chief has fallen the ground is strong. Something keeps this place."
Listening before pressing the door open with his foot. Teuni keeps his bow ready, prepared to fight if needed.
Sibee smiles. "Now, if that is good or bad... We must be alert until we know."
Particularly thorough searching of the shack's front door reveals little, even to Eluvias, whom listens quite well. It would appear that the squat shack building is, indeed empty. Closer inspection of the structure reveals it is only 15 feet wide, and 20 feet long. Just as well, it is 9 feet tall. Slowly tapping the door open is somewhat noisy, but only for a moment, as the metal grinds against itself.
Inside is a storage space, it seems. Row upon row of various, convenient tools for everything from farming, to gardening. There are other tools, as well, hidden among the others.
Sibee watches and smiles. "Congratulations Teuni, you've found the tool shed." she looks around at the group. "Let's go up to the main house and look around?"
"Indeed." He breathed a sigh of relief. "Maybe we can find the library soon?" He allowed a small glimmer of hope to creep into his voice. "We might even find something about this place's history."
In the back room of the "Tool Shed" is also a storage unit for what appears to be functioning containers of ale, or juice. A tankard is precariously placed next to the spicket.
Teuni seemed pleased by the discovery. Shelter, Tools and drink. Useful. At the suggestion of searching the main house he looks up and nods before mimicking Sibeesha's and Eluvias's words. "Found Tool Shed. Find The Library Soon." He wasn't sure what a library was but he was interested as he fell back into broken common. "Library. There in Man House? Find more use full t'ings, dis good yes."
He either takes the lead or follows with Chacta and Tal in tow and bow at the ready. He kept scanning the main house and the nearby buildings for movement. Teuni was unsure of this place still and there was much more ground to cover before he felt secure. Especially at seeing how well the grounds were being kept.
Eekz quirks a half-smile. walks over and sniffs the contents (if any) of the tankard to see if he can tell what was in it and how long since it was used.
Then he follows the others out of the shed after revealing what, if anything, he learned.
"Someone drinking mead here... Can still smell it." He puts the tankard back and follows out of the shed.
Sibee looks at the little green man. "If there's any left, help yourself. I'll grab some if you survive."
As a slight, eerie breeze washed over the others, Charles suddenly appeared behind them.
I apologise for my delay. I grew curious of the surrounding area. That Gentleman, Faust, gave us fair warning of the potential horrors that away within the darkness ahead and if I can somehow contribute in bettering the lifestyle of the locals, perhaps even repairing the town....considering the sorry state it's in. Though, I feel our best bet is to head inside our new home, where we're most likely to find an explanation and likely our papers of ownership.
Looking over you all, Lord Charles smiled with a gentle nod.
You're right, though. It's always best to check your surroundings before advancing any further.
Eekz shrugs and turns back, tries to fill the tankard from one of the barrels... He'll sniff the contents before drinking and if it smells okay, he'll take a big draught before pronouncing the contents safe... or not. If he doesn't get sick or poisoned, he'll offer the tankard to Sibee, taking her at her word.
Hearing the man talk catches TEuni's attention momentarily, he tilts his head and listens before turning back to his task of stalking forward. Bow ready and arrow resting lightly on his bowstring as he looked back towards the main house once more, making his way towards it again. "Look and find or become meat. Teuni chose not ta be meat."
Sibee accepts the tanker from the little green one.
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"Perhaps, in the future, they believed Eekz would refrain from eating or drinking things on sight. Perhaps they were right? Perhaps there would be no future."
As you go to drink the mead, you are suddenly assailed by a 1 foot diameter discus. A small, protoplasmic blob slithers down your throat, and to your surprise, numbs your mind as it dissolves within you, suffusing its essence throughout your body.
The party collectively watches this unfold, of course. At least, those that are in the shed. Those that are not, are not too keen on the sound of a gelatinous sentient mass wiggling its way forcibly down a wiry goblin's throat.
Sibee watches and tries to think about what is happaning. "Well, if you survive, I'll stop calling you Little green guy."
"Wha' was that? Me feelz funny."
"Oh my! That was an amber ooze. Good thing that your stomach acid should take care of it. Well...should..." Eluvias finished the sentence nervously, while keeping a wary eye on the goblin.
Unbeknownst to Teuni, he continued heading towards the two story building, seeing as a larger shelter would be necessary to house all of them. He was still leery of a grounds keeper or hidden dangers as Tal, Chacta and Himself made their way across the grounds. He kept his bow ready, prepare to defend himself if needed.
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Eluvias makes the party aware of what he knows, and tells them that AAV gave him his first book on alchemy. Meaning that he might be able to find a cure if they can find where the estate's library is.
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"Me eat it... me poop it, right?" Eekz says, not understanding the whole 'infusion' thing.
Sibee casts Detect Magic to see if it's fused with the little green man. If it is, she will let everyone know.
Not overly concerned with what was happening in the Shed, Charles also made his way over to the two-story building, unaware of what happened to Eekz and somewhat cautious of Teuni......just not in a way that would single the lizard-man out. Teuni was a stranger and with no knowledge of his background, Charles wasn't yet ready to place his trust in him.
We had better head in before we run into anything particularly unsightly out here.
Charles was something Teuni was unsure of.
The little green man was silly, impractical but had uses. The wood walker he found very useful, educated as Svetlana would say. The human female was... interesting, humanish but not. Something new enough for him to want to taste the scent and ponder. At Charles words he stopped and looked back towards the tool den. "Wait for dem?" He nodded before scanning the area around them. "Understand, we go, t'ey follow?
"Go where? Big house? Longshanks already go there." He points toward Lord Charles.
Taking a deep breath, Eluvias steels himself and pulls out a potion. He drinks it, and immediately he begins to shrink. Before long, he is the same size as Eekz. Now smaller (and thus nimbler and harder to hit), he opens the front door to the estate and looks inside.
As Eluvias attempts to look around the door, he quickly discovers that the front door of the Keep has been thoroughly rigged by some manner of trap. A set of chords is visible on the side of the door.
Seeing the trap, Eluvias carefully began the process of disabling it...
As you tinker with the mechanism, you hear something go thunk behind the door, but nothing else comes of it. Proceeding to open the door, you see a rather hefty battle axe embedded into the other side. It is stuck in the large wooden door.
"And this is why, my friends, I am not goblin sized. Please, follow behind me. We should assume that everything in here is dangerous until proven otherwise."
Teuni moves up to Eluvias, nods at what he is saying and follows quietly. He stows his bow and turns to relying on his claws and teeth instead. He gives Chacta and Tal a command to stay behind before proceeding on with the others into the house.
I concur. We had best keep our wits about us.
Charles continued to be cautious of his surroundings, but remained by Teuni's side as Eluvias lead the way.