Silent will step up to the were-wolf and swing his axe.
+1 Dwarven waraxe:
Thinking whistfully of the silver bullets in his beltloops and not presently loaded into his weapon, Zhan draws his Silversheen longsword while saying a silent prayer to make his weapon bane against this creature, steps 45 degrees to the side to start a flanking maneuver on the beast, and then thrusts his blade into its side.
Meridian levels his musket at the creature and fires both barrels, his weapon belching a tongue of fire to accompany the loud reports.
One of the many pouches on his ammo belt goes flat as he begins swiftly reloading one of his smoking barrels.
"If you have silver, use it! Werewolves are barely harmed by ought else!"
Wow...ok. The beast winces at Simons thrust, but becomes quickly angered by other means. It feels the sharp sting of an arrow and two bullets enter its back. As it turns, Zhan uses his moment of advantage, and slices the beast throat, ear to ear. It falls at this attack, and filling with anger, it attempts to get up and seek revenge. Before it's fully to its feet, you hear the shouting of a dwarf hewing his axe through the werewolf's neck. His head falls to the sand and rolls toward the ocean. When his head is removed, a necklace flies off from beneath his fur landing between the 3 combatants next to the fresh corpse. Kiwyns spell dissolves as it seeks out its target and finds death.
Silent, Zhan, and Simon are all around the necklace, and Kiwyn and Meridian are still closer to the water.
Simon hooks the pendant with his narrow sword and lifts it up, wary but curious.
"Well done. Anyone know what to make of this?"
Kiwyn frowns, her seriousness disappearing. She mutters a curse in her native Tein at the waste of her spell. The wizard walks slowly towards the severed head at the water's edge.
"I can take a look at it if you like." She offers even as seeks to retrieve the head.
Robert breathes a sigh of relief when the beast dies, lowering his bow. Seeing no other danger, he puts it back in the quiver before approaching the others.
He shakes his head when Simon asks, speaking for the first time since he met him. "Not I. Thank you all for coming with me, I do not know what I would have done had I met it alone."
He pauses when he sees Simon's wound. "You are hurt," he states. "I apologize. Will you allow me to heal you?"
The nobleman nods and seems a bit amused. "Of course. I think my new shirt is worse off than I am though."
"I am Simon, a Knight of Raven Tower."
Silent almost a little flustered. Silent states, "Something foul be happen'n! Only things I see turn to dust be a vampire, in underdark. Is this some kinda vampire? Me uncle killed one once. They be some evil things."
"Not a vampire. A werewolf. It should not be dissolving. It might revert to a humanoid form though. Might give us some idea as to who they were before they were infected. This needs to be tracked to it's source. Lycanthropes can spread like plague."
Zhan wipes the blood from his sword on the fur of the beast's trunk before returning it to its scabbard.
"Odd. I'd not have expected the creature to go down so easily... If it was truly a werewolf, it should revert to its human form soon. The curse does not extend beyond death."
Robert nods and places a hand on the wound. He starts chanting in a strange language.
A soothing aura of blue energy flows around his hand. It feels cool and when he finishes, the wound has disappeared.
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
He approaches the decapitated body and pulls out his arrow with a solid yank, wiping it clean before putting it in his quiver.
"These were-things, ye think it's a curse? Also we should move. I aint for sticking with ye here. It's getting dark and we need to be headed to town." Silent looks around nervously.
"Lycanthropy is a curse, yes." Simon says, waiting for the others to finish thier investigations and gathering of equipment so they could head back to town. "Though it is transferable like a disease, most commonly by being bitten by someone who is infected."
The body slowly reverts back to human form and reveals a man with tattoos covering his back. Upon closer inspection, it looks like a map of some sort, with dwarven runes.
Simon's brows narrow as he reads the runes on the werewolf's back.
"Wonderful. Cryptic prophecy tattooed onto the back of a cursed shapeshifter."
Tilting his blade so that the necklace slid down to hang on the hilt, Simon looked into the swirling Garnet and glanced over at Zahn. "I think you and I just found ourselves another hunt."
Kiwyn picks up the head, holding it to look at it face to face. Closing her eyes she offers a silent prayer for the man's soul. "May you be at peace." She carries the head over to the body and sets it beside the corpse respectfully.
Kywin tilts her head curiously as she reads the cryptic tattooing. Pulling paper and pen from her pouch she quickly jots down the inscription, then tucks them away again. Reaching into her pack she pulls out some of her normal clothing as she walks over to Simon.
"It is also possible to be born with lycanthropy. They usually tend to have more control over the beast with in." She mentions off handedly as she uses her shirt to carefully handle the necklace. Turning it this way and that as she examines it.
"The smith is right. We should consider going back to town." She agrees off-handedly. "Especially if you want me to determine anything about this particular shiny."
"Ah, yes, please, hold on until I get my things."
Robert hurriedly gathers his belongings from the shore.
"I'm curious about where his ship came from, and what it was doing here."
He looks at it carefully, trying to take in all the details.
"If we are headed back, we should watch out for more werewolves; they sometimes run in packs. If we do, remember: use silver weapons if you have them. Still..."
Zhan moves slowly and carefully to the hole in the ship's hull and peers in, sword held at the ready.
Simon nods. "We can return in the morning for a more complete investigation."
In spite of the slight wizard lady's attempt at being respectful to the dead, Simon picked up the body, tossed it over his saddle and put the head in a sack.
"We can burn the body after we make an copy of his back."
Kiwyn wraps the necklace in the shirt and puts it in her pack.
Zhan makes a silent movement with a few mumbled words, followed by another spell, and then another.
.
After he is finished, Zhan returns and nods at Simon's actions, "We may be able to find out who he was before the curse as well. His family might appreciate learning his fate and having the body returned to them. If not, there may always be a bounty on werebeasts."
Having taken care of the monster, and learning of the marks on his back, you all realize that it would be wise to head back to town. So long as you make decent time, there could still be a good nights rest for you all. The forest however is still very much alive, and caution would be best in your travels.
With the quality of the necklace it would be possible to place a strong enchantment on it. She would have to be very careful handling it. Once they got back to town Kiwyn was looking forward to a hot bath and good meal. Then she would have to sleep before she could examine the necklace properly.
"First light, Zahn and I will come back here. Any of you that wish to join us, may."
Simon turns and starts walking his horse back to town.
Silent will head back to town with group, looking at Kiwyn he states, "This group be trouble, ye stay away from them girlie. They be look'n for a death-wish. Best find ye a job or profession. Also, careful with darn trinket, it could be the problem."
His musket held ready, and his eyes searching the gloom, Meridian brings up the rear.
Zhan steps into the ship briefly, grabbing the book, and gathering up the coins and the bag. He casts Sift once more in order to examine the man.
Robert follows closely, feeling overwhelmed at the situation he has found himself in.
Kiwyn smiles at Silent. "Thank you for your concern, but I left home to avoid such trappings. I want make my own way for now." Her smile becomes a bit more mischievous. "To see what secrets the world has to find."
Silent shakes in head in disappointment. He mumbles, "Damn blunder-headed girl, she's gonna get herself killed..." Looking back at group. Silent states, "I'll be following and watching ye. Gonna make the forge-smith mad, but maybe I can find some armor/weapon plans since those are dwarven and help my craft."
As you all reach the gate, the guards are hesitant to let you in. After a moment they realize you're not being followed, and open the gate. When they let you in, they notice the body you've carried with you. They confront you with weapons drawn.
Hold! What have you done to this man? Explain!
When the guards confront the group as they enter the gate Kiwyn frowns for a moment. She quickly adopts a demeanor of mixed fear and innocence, clutching he hands together. "Please good sir, we only defended ourselves." She pleaded hoping they would be hesitant to attack a small girl.
I can hardly believe the six of you needed to defend yourself from one man. Unless... he trails off noticing the tattoos on the man. Was he a sorcerer? Travelers have been attacked as of late by foul necromancers and such.
Meridian lays the barrels of his musket across his shoulder, balancing the weapon with a hand easy on its butt stock. He speaks in a quiet voice, though loud enough for the guard to hear, No sir, not a sorcerer. A man. In wolf's clothing.
"Necromancers?" Leon said pointedly. "Keep talking."
"And shut the gates."
Robert shakes his head, uneased. "I do not know. A gray-furred beast attacked us while I was gathering my things and we defended ourselves. When it died, the corpse turned human. I've never seen anything like it."
Zhan takes a quick look around to see how many guards are present, and if any are readying weapons or anything.
"Peace; the man was evidently under some form of curse. He attacked us without provocation, and as was mentioned, he wore the form of a wolf-thing, and attacked with tooth and nail. Luckily, none of us was bitten, as that is often how the curse is transferred. We brought the body back with us as such men are not necessarily responsible for their actions, as they are driven like the beasts they appear to be. If the body can be identified, we can return it to his family, and see him properly laid to rest."
The guards quickly shut the gates behind the party. Two of the men sheathe their weapons and take the body from your horse. They mention taking him to the mortician to have his identity worked out.
Weapons down men. says the officer. We are glad you are safe then. The other guards that confronted you sheathe their weapons as well. Only the few that are closest to the gate maintain a ready on theirs. All the guards return to their positions, and the officer gestures for you to follow.
It's become a major problem recently. The dead of the forest have been returning to life. They've been attacking caravans, travelers and sometimes townsfolk who venture too far. Three months back, Andarin, the town drunk came screaming of sorcerers raising the dead. We didn't believe him, but a few nights afterward, something terrible attacked my men. It smelled of dead flesh, with a raspy and piercing voice. The way it moved, twitching and sliding, almost floating across the ground with an eerie grace. It killed six guards without effort. It was a monstrous evil, and it took a cabal of clerics to drive it away. The guard leads you all to the inn. You've done us a valuable, if but small service, thinning the ranks of evil out there. I've arranged for your stay of two weeks to be paid in full. Thanks you all. Get some rest. Get some food. I think we'll be working very closely for some time.
Leon listens carefully, nodding as the guard speaks. "Glad we could help. Spread word to the towns. Until this is over, all bodies are to be cremated. Anyone bitten by any animal or person is to be quarantined for one month, or until they can be looked over by a priest or physician. Any ban on carrying weapons is temporarily lifted."
Simon turns out the lapel of his coat to reveal his Crest of Knighthood revealing himself as an agent of the Watcher-Lord.
"My name is Simon Ravencourt. I am a Knight of Raven Tower. These sorts of evils are my charge and jurisdiction. If anyone has any concerns about these directives, you can tell them where to find me."
"Thank you for your generosity," Robert says even though he feels that he didn't do much. "This town seems to be plagued with danger. Eastwall, was it?" He shakes his head, clearly unfamiliar with the area. "I will do what I can to help."
Kiwyn lets out a sigh of relief as the guards stand down. She follows the group as the guardsman speaks, listening intently. "Necromancers, the undead, things that go bump in the night. These are dangerous times guardsman."
When Simon reveals himself she hesitates for a moment. She quickly recovers though and continues following. "Food and rest is exactly what I am looking forward to." The kitsune says trying to sound light-hearted. "And a chance to slip into something more comfortable." She thought to herself
Silent leaves the group to go work at his forge. Nods in thanks to guard for the free room and stay.
Before he leaves, Silent says in a determined voice "Ye be best to leave this whole thing alone. If ye aint got that in mind, lemme know. It's been a while and I think you'll need all the help ye can get."
The guard nods to you all. "Rest now warriors. You've earned it." He walks away, and as some of you walk into the Inn, you're greeted heartily by the keeper.
"Ah! I've been expecting you. Come, eat. You're just in time for dinner, and your rooms are all set up." He looks around confused for a minute. "Is the dwarf going to join you?"
"He went back to the forges. May be that he'll join us later." Simon said shaking the Innkeep's hand.
"Smells delicious." he said with a smile as he took off his coat and hung his weapon harness on a chair.
Robert bows his head to the innkeeper. "Thank you for your generosity. I am indeed quite hungry. I am unable to remember when it was I have last eaten."
Meridian bows to the innkeeper with his fist pressed to his heart. Thank you for your hospitality.
"Mmm..." Kiwyn sniffs the air as she enters the inn. "It does smell delicious. Perhaps dining, then a bath." She smiles at the innkeeper "Thank you."
Finding a table large enough for the group she seats herself and orders some wine.
"Thank you, 'Keep. A meal would be most welcome."
Zhan waits for everyone to get settled. He orders mead, and a large serving of meat, served blood rare.
"We should be up at first light if we intend to investigate that wreck. I would like to pay a visit to the mortician, and see if any further clues can be divined from the body of the beast."
He remains long enough to be polite, and then bids the others goodnight. He then slips up to his room to get some sleep before dawn.