Confused and terrified by what they're witnessing from within the fog, Denair and Frankie desperately look to hide or flee. From the outside, it's difficult for the rest of the group to see what's happening but they have no trouble hearing Denair and Frankie's distressed cries. Thankfully the fog only billows out to a certain point, leaving everyone else clear unless they wish to step within...
Denair follows Frankie. "I- I'll protect you, Frankie! Just wait there!"
As Frankie flees further into the building and Denair attempts to chase after him, Brayden applies another burst of positive energy to the swirling mists! A few more tendrils recede but the bulk of the fog still remains, swirling menacingly and making the atmosphere within the building almost unbearably oppressive...
Now that you've had a chance to study the fog and/or suffer its effects, you realize that the effect is similar to that of a Haunting Mists spell. Given a few minutes, it should eventually dissipate on its own.
Once Frankie and Denair exit the fog, they find that the worst of the fear seems to subside though they're still left feeling addled and off-balance for the experience.
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Jan looks at Lazarus, then shrugs his shoulders and walks in, drawing his battle axe in a fluid motion.
"Don't go in there alone."
Jan recalls his childhood training and what the wise-woman had told him about various apparitions, ghosts and haunts.
"If it returns, weapons will be of no use against it."
Gozreh protects his faithful.
Though it takes a few minutes the sickly yellow fog finally disperses, allowing the rest of the group to approach the humanoid body and the numerous carvings...if they dare. Lazarus suspects that it will take the haunt some time to 'recharge' for lack of a better word and become a threat once more but still reasons that it would be safer to make their investigations and leave the area as quickly as they can.
Stepping inside he takes a good, long look at the odd scene laid out before the group. The first thing that immediately stands out to him about the body is that the remains are little more than an oddly clean, broken skeleton of a middle-aged human male. While there are furrows and gouges in some of the bones that would be consistent with a bear's teeth and claws Lazarus also realizes that whoever this was seems to have been in the process of being eaten away from the inside out by some sort of caustic substance - though no trace of said substance remains.
When this strange discovery is brought to your attention, you realize that it sounds similar to the damage that can be caused by some types of oozes.
Each of the nine carvings arrayed around the body depict a standing bear, likely meant to be totems or effigies of Dolok Darkfur. However it's difficult to tell which one is the darkwood carving that you need without further study as all of the carvings are covered by moss and other accumulated debris. None of them appear to radiate a magical aura, either.
Still a bit spooked, Frankie remains in hiding but is unable to resist peeking around the rest of the home. Unfortunately, it appears to be in as poor a shape as the other buildings - save the Skorlov home - are and he doesn't discover anything but more moldering furniture, rotting clothes, and weeds and vines creeping in through the broken windows and cracks in the walls.
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Once the fog (or frog) lifts, Frankie and his light eventually make their way back to the front door, a bit disappointed. "Other than that weird fog I didn't find anything back there." He shrugs his shoulders before heading over to check out the neat dolls.
"Oh cool, we're taking these right? We could set up a really sweet game of war or something!" He picks up one and uses it to start chopping at Denny. "Stay back! Stay back I say!" He squeaks in his best Princess voice.
Meredith uses guidance to help Denair identify the wood.
"Is it... this one?" Denair points at one of the statues. "Or... this one?" She points at another before grunting. "I'm so sorry. After those visions I'm just... sorry."
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"Indeed, Yorad, it seems consistent with the secretions of an ooze of some sort," Lazarus nods. Looking at the totems, the wizard priest recognizes the wood used to make the carvings. "Hmm, darkwood. Exquisite," Lazarus remarks as he tries to determine which of the figurines might be the one needed to perform the ritual.
The group cautiously gathers up the idols and steps back outside, or at least onto the building's porch, and sets about trying to determine which one might be the required totem. While Jan and Denair are both unsure of which one might be the correct totem, Lazarus is able to narrow the matter down - most of the carvings appear to be made of spruce. Not the best type of wood for carving but it'll still do in a pinch if there's nothing better available. And with a little further testing of weights he's able to determine that the 9th carving is the one made of darkwood, for darkwood is famous for being quite sturdy but also surprisingly lightweight.
With the darkwood carving you've now found nearly everything that Nelket said you would need to summon Dolok Darkfur! The only thing left to find is a small, polished stone with a mottled pattern....surely not a difficult task given the location, right?
Denair follows, her head hanging low. "I'm sorry. I thought I could figure it out." She cheers up. "But I'm happy other people know their wood textures."
Meredith ruffles her hair, then she goes to observe the other building.
With the gathering of items almost complete, the group moves to investigate the last building that stands close to the village center. Much like the other buildings this one has seen better days and looks as though it may not last too many more winters before collapsing entirely. Weeds and vines snake in and out of the windows and open door and it doesn't take look before you spot more bones peeking out from here and there amid the rubble. Further investigation reveals that their injuries are similar to the bones you found in the haunted building; gouges and claw marks indicating an attack by a bear or other such creature but also the same strange wasting away from within.
Neither Brayden nor Lazarus nor Meredith detect any magical auras while picking through the rubble and debris inside but with everyone keep their eyes open it isn't long before you spot what you need - on the floor, underneath the remains of a table, Lazarus finds a palm-sized stone that matches the description Nelket gave you. And now, with all of the necessary items gathered, there's only one place left at the village center that you've yet to investigate - the old, dilapidated shrine that was surely once dedicated to the Farheavens' protector, Dolok Darkfur...
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"This is it, right?" Meredith gathers the needed items. "I'll tell the Skorlovs
we're going to do the ritual. They should either stay in the home for safety or maybe they want to take a walk away from here."
Once that's done, she confirms Denair has Mage Armor active and readies her longspear, just in case. The Unseen Servant dutifully holds onto her mace.
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Frankie continues on, battling Denny with his new wooden toy soldier, "Back tree beast! Heeeeyyaaaa!" He seems even more distracted than usual.
"Oh neat, we're gonna do that ritual thing now? This is where we get to wrestle a bear right?" He gets down on all fours and starts to growl, swiping at Denair wit his imaginary claws.
Denair is always curious about Frankie. "If we don't wrestle a bear, I will gladly substitute!" Denair sniffs at Frankie before yipping happily. She's about to run off before Meredith forces her to pay attention.
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With the help of his companions, Lazarus prepares to perform the ritual.
Before he begins, he casts shield of faith, a wise precaution when summoning a dangerous supernatural being. "I'll wait to intone the summons, until everyone is ready."
Once everyone gives him a thumbs-up, the wizard priest starts chanting.
"Spirits of the world, I ask you,
Find favor with my call and summons,
On the seven winds I beg you travel,
And greet me in my presence,
For a speaking of things that need be spoken,
From this moment forward,
Your powers do I wish invoke,
For things that need be done."
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Jan's head is filled with visions of warfare as he can't image this being a peaceful summoning...
Jan moves near Lazarus as he begins the ritual- prepared to defend his friend with his own life.
By Gozreh's beard and the Valkyrie's wings.
Bringing forth the power of gods, Jan encases his weapon in ice, then drinks his magical potion of giant-form.
"Grandfather... I shall see you in Valhalla someday, but that day is not today!"
OoC- Potion of Enlarge Person and Warpriest Blessing Ice Strike.
Though overgrown and sorely in need of maintenance, the structure near the village center is obviously the clan’s old shrine to Dolok Darkfur. Near the center is a toppled statue of a bear, standing on its hind legs and looking both regal and fierce. Carved of darkwood, it is about 7 feet tall and 2 feet in diameter. Tatters of a once-brilliant cloak are still nailed to the shoulders, no doubt ripped off at the same time the statue was toppled and slashed, with four long gouges across the face. A low bench, now broken in two, used to sit in front of the statue to hold totems, offerings, and other items.
Quickly realizing that you'll have to get the statue righted again in order to properly perform the summoning ritual. Rather than try to move it with brute strength alone, Lazarus is able to concoct a way to leverage the statue with a log and thus make it easier to right. Then, with everyone working together, you manage to heave the statue back into a standing position. With this one last task complete, everyone prepares themselves as Lazarus enacts the summoning ritual...
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Within moments of the ritual’s completion, a dark-furred bear walks slowly toward the altar, appearing out of nowhere as if he had walked through a fog. He walks on his hind legs, like a human, his arms swinging slowly at his sides. His shoulders are covered in a mantle of feathers arranged to create a rainbow that cascades down his back. He comes to a halt near the statue behind the altar — a striking resemblance to the real thing — and takes a deep breath.
"I am Dolok Darkfur, lost god and failed guardian of the doomed Farheaven Clan. Who are you to have distracted me from my eternal sorrow?" the bear speaks in a low, rumbling voice.
The great bear slowly bends double to look Frankie in the eyes, cocking his head to one side as he does. "Nelket...it has been many moons since I last heard or spoke that name," Dolok rumbles, though his tone is oddly monotone. "You say that she sent you to me? That is...hard to believe. What would be the point of such a thing? I have failed as a guardian. Whatever history the clan once had is best forgotten. They are dead, and even little Nelket has abandoned our ways."
Dolok sighs, slowly rising to his full height once more. He gazes up at the sky, now beginning to glow red with the light of late afternoon. "No...there is nothing here for anyone. Let the Farheaven clan...us...vanish from this world..."
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"Greetings, Dolok Darkfur," Lazarus says, offering a slight bow, slender blue hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointing upwards, thumbs close to his chest. "I am Lazarus Logos."
"Nelket and her people seek to understand what happened here, to you and to the Farheaven Clan. What is the cause of your eternal sorrow?"
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Frankie nods his head enthusiastically "But she did! I showed her how to make cocoa and she said you loved honey, so we brought you an extra big pot! She taught Laz there how to call you so you'd come, and what we'd need for stuff." Frankie points to the relics laid out for the ceremony.
He turns to the others "Tell him, I'm not making it up! I'm not!" Frankie starts to get a bit belligerent that the bear won't believe him. He points and nods fervently as Lazarus backs up his story. "See!"
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"The clan is no more, yes." Meredith steps forward. "But Nelket wishes to know what happened. She asked us to come here. To discover what happened here. A plague hit this village fifteen years ago, taking the lives of all the old. Nelket is the eldest survivor, and even she remembers little."
"What can we do to help, or at least honor your memory? It can't just end like this."
As you study Dolok and think back to what Nelket told you about the god callers of her clan, you realize that the great bear guardian is a creature much like Denair - an eidolon, albeit an unfettered one.
"You cannot erase my failures or my deeds, Lazarus Logos!" Dolok snarls impatiently. "There is nothing that you or your friends can do for me. The blood of my clan stains my claws, my fur, my teeth. I taste it in my mouth always. I choke on it and feel it seep from my eyes as I weep. Justice! Oh, that I could find some way to destroy that foul contagion that has taken my people from this world, whatever the cost to myself! But I would not know how to accomplish such a task, could I even return to that tainted grove. I am bound here, to this altar and this village, damned to haunt it like a miserable ghost," he finishes, uttering a low moan of sadness and despair. "You should flee this place...do not risk the plague taking you..."
It seems clear that Dolok has sunken into a deep depression over his years of solitude and mourning but thankfully he doesn't seem inclined to violence - at least for the time being. But as he speaks of a tainted grove, you remember something that Nelket had told you earlier, about a woodcutter and an infected tree. Surely it can't be a coincidence?
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Lazarus tries to calm the unfettered eidolon. "We would visit this tainted grove and investigate the nature of the plague. Nelket told us about how one of the woodcutters had chopped into a tree he shouldn’t have. There was an awful smell and a mist that made him cough. The people who got sick developed coughs very quickly, and they had a smell about them, as if they were rotting from the inside."
"Dolok Darkfur, do you recall the woodcutter? Are there fey in these parts? Could the man have run afoul of a dryad?"
Denair looks upon the guardian with pity. What would have happened to her if the village that grew around her was wiped out? Would she wallow in despair? Go mad with isolation? She nudges against Meredith's leg, thankful she found some reason, some purpose-
"The tree!" she blurts out. "Nelket mentioned a tree and a mist of some kind. When someone chopped it, there was a mist and a smell. Nelket said they were rotting from the inside." She steps up.
"We will look for those trees. And we'll make sure that mist never spreads again. So, don't lose hope, alright? Even if we don't come back, there are three humans living in that place. It's worth at least talking to them."
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Frankie watches the adults talk, back and forth with the bear, looking up from his sub four foot tall position "Find the sick trees.. we can do that right? Denny is a wiz with trees! She's like... half tree or something right?" He takes another moment to get a closer look at Denair, shaking his head a bit as he tries to decide.
"Do we have a map? Directions? Or maybe we just can wander the woods a while? Maybe these new people would know." He starts spitballing ideas rapid fire, counting them off on his fingertips one at a time.
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"But what are we to do to these trees that will stop this from happening again?" Brayden ponders. "Start a forest fire? There must be a less dramatic way to assist. It seems possible that the trees aren't the source of the plague, but that they were infected by something or someone else." He walks a wide circle around Dolok. "Anyone up for a trip to this tainted grove?"