"Aye, Let's be going then." Silent says. He turns to Zhan, "Ye make sure to keep yer head low and call for help if ye need it."
Robert nods. "Alright."
Kiwyn gives a nod and looks between Zhan and Simon. "I didn't see if the church or the town hall were still standing, I wasn't looking for them." She admits.
"Alright. Let's head out. Needless to say, but if you hear a whole bunch of gunshots, please come quickly!"
Zhan mounts his horse and heads off with his team into the town.
Meridian nods to Zahn and salutes with a gesture of his musket. Then he turns his horse and begins searching for clues to the location of the rest of the villagers.
Kiwyn helps Khloey up into Noroikawa's saddle before climbing up herself. "Hold on tight."
With the girl behind her the wizard rides between the other two, letting the fighters flank her.
Simon moves deeper into the residential district, knocking on occasional doors, and calling out for potential survivors.
"We can check the clearing after the homes."
Meridian turns to the others, "Perhaps we should check that ship. It seems possible there are survivors on board."
"I agree, that is a possibility." Robert peers at the contents of the containers.
Kiwyn looks down each path with equal intrest, but agrees with Simon's call to check the housing first. As they move along she watches to windows as Simon knocks and calls out, looking for movement or signs of life.
Zhan takes the other side of the street from Simon. As he moves, his gun hand never moves more than a few inches from the weapon. He keeps a keen ear tuned to any strange sounds; ones that might indicate a threat, or a survivor.
As the trio moves through the streets the kitsune's hopes for finding any survivors dwindles with every unanswered door.
"Do you think we will find anyone?" Kiwyn tries to sound hopeful for Khloeys's sake, but Simon and Zhan's experienced ears can most likely hear the subtle despair in her tone.
"No. But we have to check."
Robert leads the way to the ship if no one else goes in front. He takes out his bow just in case.
Keep it together, Simon. This ain't the worst thing you've seen. Just the biggest in scale. Do the job now. Deal with the fallout later.
"Cover me." he says to his partner, moving to get a closer look at the hooded body.
Drawing his silvery rapier, he lifted back the hood with the end of it.
Zhan draws his revolver and keeps a wary eye, both in case the robed figure should turn out to be playing dead, or if he should be the bait for a trap coming from another direction.
"Fish get behind me. Meridian ye watch our backs. I'll head in first." Silent readies his shield and axe. Then mutters quickly to himself, "Damn boats, I ain't made for this."
Perception:
Kiwyn stops the horse and readies herself just in case something bad happens. "Only one ray left until I have a chance to rest." She worries to herself. "Need to make it count if I use it."
Meridian takes up a position at the back of the trio, making sure that no one can approach from behind without he knows about it.
"My name is Robert," the gillman says, "and it seems like we can still use this ship, if we so wish. Be careful."
"The bag! Look, it's glowing. Simon; watch yourself!"
Meridian continues to remain alert for any approaching danger.
"F*!!!" Simon swears, yanking back as the hooded figure comes back to life for a moment and grabs his boot. He relaxed from his defensive crouch as the man collapses again and whirls to check on Kiwyn and the child.
"No time! Something about the stone is effecting her!" Simon snarls, running up and snatching the bag and moving away from the child. "Get her clear of it!"
“Hmm?” Kiwyn looks down at Khloey when she says she doesn’t feel well, drawing her attention away from Simon. But when she falls limp against her the Kitsune instantly concerned. “Khloey!” She manages to cry out before Simon nearly pulls her from the saddle by yanking off her bag.
She was about to yell at him, wondering if the human had just gone mad.
"No time! Something about the stone is effecting her!" Simon snarls, running up and snatching the bag and moving away from the child. "Get her clear of it!"
Kiwyn finally notices the glow coming from her pack and bites back the profanity she was about to say.
”Signal the others.” She barks at Zhan.
With a stern yank she turns Noroikawa causing the horse to fuss and the suddenness of the command. She mutters in her native Tien and pushes the horse to a gallop in the direction the other group had ventured off in. She needed the aquatic cleric.
"Let's check the quarters."
"We should check the cabins, lets start with crew then move to captians." Silent says. (He'll enter doors first when party is ready)
Perception:
Zhan raises his pistol and fires a shot into the air. He offers an arm to Simon to help him swing back into the saddle of his horse, and then once he is seated, he turns his own animal and heads after Kiwyn.
Simon continues to hold the stone, worried about letting it near the girl. Simon mounts up with Zahn's quick help, but he doesn't follow.
"Go. I want to keep this things as far away from the girl as possible. I'll be alright."
Zhan and Kiwyn are headed towards the docks to randevu with the others, Kiwyn holding a strong lead, gripping the body of the small child against her.
When your vision returns you find yourself in a dark place. You are cold, shivering, and naked. Upon searching your surroundings, you find that the darkness around you stretches seemingly forever. The only light comes from above you, and when you look up, you see a red glimmer, and a window-like structure. From there, you can see the road you were on just a moment ago. In the background of the view, you can see your horse as well. He is moving around very nervously, and although you can tell he is making a lot of noise, you cannot hear him.
"You should not have done that." Comes a voice from the shadows.
Zhan scans for any sign of his comrades along the shipyards. He scans the ground as well, hoping that the lack of recent populous would make it easier to determine which way they went.
"Kiwyn, what are you hoping the Aquatic will be able to do for her? Are you sure you would not like me to take a look? Recall that I am a healer as well..."
Zhan steps his horse up to Kiwyn's, and brushes back the girl's hair, feeling her skin and looking at her face.
"I don't know who you are, but it would be a very good idea for you to let me go..."
Meridian's head snaps up at the sound of the distant gunshot. "That is the signal for trouble! We need to go now!" He takes a couple steps towards the ladder going up, and if the others follow will keep going.
Robert grabs the notebook before following after Meridian. A quick decision but the sailors at least deserved to have their names remembered. And if nothing else, the gillman would like to know more about these unfamiliar waters.
Kiwyn slows Nowa as they approach the docks, allowing Zhan to catch up. The kitsune takes a calming breath and nods. "I apologize for my outburst. I did not think of your abilities, only that what had happen to this town was unholy, and that our companion was a cleric. I suppose I thought he could help somehow." She looks down at Khloey as Zhan checks her forehead, obvious concern on the wizard's face.
"It was inconsiderate to make such assumptions. I could have endangered all of us." Kiwyn realizes that Simon is still not with them. "Simon, he's alone now. He could be in trouble."
"Aye, and quickly. Who knows what that darn gurl got herself into." Silent pushes towards the door.
Zhan draws his pistol and fires another shot in the air, in case the others are looking for them, and unaware that we have come closer to them.
"The sound should help them find us. Simon could be in danger, but it is a risk he chose to take. He is a capable man. As soon as we find the others, I will go back for him. Now, let me see the girl, and I will see if I can figure out a way to help her."
Examining the girl a bit more thoroughly, Zhan works to assess what is wrong, and what should be done, if anything within his capabilities can be done.
The second shot, much closer, sounds as Meridian hits the top of the gangway. Sprinting down to his horse, Meridian throws himself into the saddle. Two shots is very bad. "Hurry!"
Upon inspecting the girl, Zhan, you feel that she is extremely cold. Feeling her pale skin, it is chilled to the touch, and you feel no aura of life, or even presence from her. The more you assess her, you notice that she has no heartbeat or pulse. Kiwyn, you've had Khloey in your lap for the duration of the trip to the shipyard. Her cold lifelessness is evident to you. The bright eyed young girl that you saved mere hours before, hangs lifelessly on your lap.
I am sorry Kiwyn, but she appears to have gone. Still, I will try what I can."
Zhan reaches out again and touches the girl. He recites a prayer, healing the girl, if there is still anything there to heal.
She may have taken some harm from the Zombies, or there may yet be something else going on. I wonder why the artifact glowed like that. I should get back to Simon, but not before doing all I can here. If by chance it was something to do with the zombies, I should make sure she is not a threat.
Even as Zhan attempts to help Khloey, Kiwyn knows the little girl has gone to see her ancestors. The tears have already filled her eyes and began to run down her cheeks. She hasn't even noticed the others exiting the wreckage. It is taking all of her self control not to just break into sobs as she did when she first found the girl lying in the street.
Robert rushes over to try to help.
When Meridian reaches Zhan and Kiwyn, he reins in. "What is wrong? And where is Sir Ravencourt?"
"Of course I'm ready. It's going to be awfully hard to do anything helpful while I'm up here and there's a six year old in my body though."
"Show me what I need to know and get me back so I can do my job."
Robert approaches the girl, taking a quick glance to see what's wrong "What happened to her? She feels lifeless but I see no apparent cause."