During the whole time, I am sitting next to Egder's body. Not saying anything, nor moving to help with the removal of items or healing.
I stand up slowly once Jo has smashed the armour and look down to Egder again, "Guess this means I won in the end?"
Looking a little horrified [/b]"No Jo, not peeing on them but if we leave this group of Hellknights tied to trees in their skivvies so they can be found by any passer by or even lock them up in the prison wagon so they can be like the prisoner they were transporting to be found by fellow Hellknights, there are many ways to do it."[/b]
Coran broadly smiles, then gets a bit somber "I don't think we can carry Egdar back into the city, but we could find a nice place in the forest and give him a proper burial. He hears Xianae speak "You have known Egdar the longest how would he like to be remembered"
I look to Coran, "Well he was brought up's around Sarenrae 'n' followed her teachings. So I would's say, a pyre would suit him well's."
"Then a Pyre it shall be, I will see if I can recall the rites for the followers of Sarenrae so when we find a location we can perform the proper ceremony."
Knowledge Religion:
School divination; Level cleric 0, druid 0
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range touch
Target creature touched
Duration 1 minute or until discharged
Saving Throw Will negates (harmless); Spell Resistance yes
This spell imbues the subject with a touch of divine guidance. The creature gets a +1 competence bonus on a single attack roll, saving throw, or skill check. It must choose to use the bonus before making the roll to which it applies.
Jo listens to all the talk about pyres and religion. It all confuses him.
"Weeze all haf horses. We can takes Edger wif us on one of dah horses. Some one light should ride wif him. We should get goin now. Hellknights could be comin back."
Jo piles all the flattened armor one on top of the other in a nice stack.
"Looks like dare blacksmif has some work ahead of him."
Jo takes the best looking of the hellknights longs swords and a sheath and straps it around his waste.
Looking at Jo "I agree we have to leave here quickly and with Egdar but we can't bring him back into the city, there will be to many questions on why we have a dead body with us." looking at the other children "Unless anyone else has any suggestions on what to do, I say we find a place out here away from this place and have the funeral for our fallen comrade then go back to the city and continue our mission to change Westcrown." Coran has a sort of conviction after saying the last part of his speech.
"Best to split up then, no? And come through different gates. One group for the funeral, the other straight back in Westcrown. I didn't know the man, but I care for his loss and would like to ease his departure. I would stay behind for the funeral."
"I would like's to be at his funeral, but I think's the horse owner will want's a reason why we are so late's. Anyone think's they can get us out of this problem?"
Jo scows at Moondark and the picks up Edger's Body and puts him across the back of his horse and then mounts up. Hopefully the big animal can handle both.
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You spotted some dense woods to the side of the road on your way to the bridge. Surely there would be dead wood that could be collected there. It will probably take about 15-20 minutes to get a decent pyre built for Egder. Probably would lose a half hour for anyone staying to bid him farewell.
Getting a body back into the city could be tricky. It is about a half hour to Citadel Rivad. It will probably take a little over an hour for the Hellknights to rally reinforcements to your position.
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know local
"Look Jo, trying to get a corpse past the gates is not going to work. We aren't doing Egder or our cause any good getting busted just as we're getting started."
"If you want to build a pyre, get going. We have about an hour before Badger gets back here with reinforcements. Some of us can head back and I'll just tell Jacovo one of his horses threw a rider and some of us had to stop to tend to the injury. Maybe I'll threaten to sue if he gives us any hassel. How does that sound?"
Jo replies to Moondark "You might as well take him to Elston's and get a few coin for 'im. You should haf some respect. He fought to protect everyone includin' you."
Jo will stay with the rest at Edger's service although his suspicion will keep him at bay with the horses as the service begins.
Jo will consider The Badger a nemesis.
During the service, I am very quiet and do not say a word. I am standing up right and to attention. At the end of the service I speak quietly, "Rizt mow ny freimj, jamqi for tli jawm fhowir."
When the pyre is built and Egdar put on top Coran raises his hands to the sky then says a blessing from the Sarenrae's Holy Text The Birth of Light and truth "Let the healing light of the sun burn out the darkness within you. Let your inner light be a guide for others, and a searing flame against unrepentant evil." Coran makes the sign of the Dawnflower over Egdar's forehead whispering to him "May the Dawnflower guide you on your journey to the beyond and back again." Coran aligns himself with Egdar's head. Then he recites a another prayer from the book.
Oh Dawnflower, who rises in the horizon
You rest upon law unchangeable and unalterable.
You show yourself at dawn day by day.
Your radiance is upon all faces;
Its beams cannot be counted.
May we advance, as you advance
May we never cease to go forward as you never cease to go forward,
Not even for a moment;
In brief seconds you pass over the spaces which we would need millions of years to travel.
You put an end to the hours of the night, and world becomes light.
Guide us through our own darknesses, oh Dawnflower.
May we feel joy in our moments of light.
May we be aware of our continual journey and not become lost in the shadows.
We are beings of light in your image, oh DawnFlower,
In perpetual cycles of light and darkness.
Accept our Fallen brother Egdar into your warm embrace.
Coran then nods at Xianae to light the pyre and raises his head to the sky.
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You see tears in Janiven's eyes and Amaya is outright weeping as Coran finishes the prayer and the fire is lit. Arael walks over to Coran and clutches his arm. "Coran, that was very well done. Thank you for leading us in prayer. I didn't know Egder for long, but I'm sure he will be watching over us from now on."
You and Tarvi ride back to the gate. Fortunately, ride and your approach to the gate are uneventful and you had time to clean up on the ride back to Westcrown. Shortly after reentering the city, you make your way to Jacovo's Stables. Hearing the hoofs strike outside the stable, Jacovo rushes out. "You're back! But where are the others? Where is Gorvio?"
Jo watchs the ceremony from a distance. He gets a chill at the thought of religion and mysticism.
He tends to the horses making sure they eat some grass and get some water at a nearby stream.
When the fire is going and he hears no more talking, he calls out "C'mon we should be goin'. Now that we haf sent up a marker of where we are, we don't need Hellknights up our butts."
"Thank you Coran."
I turn to the horses, where I mount up and nod to Jo.
He talks as he heads to his "horse" "My pleasure I am glad I could do this." he mounts the "horse"
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Janiven, Arael and the rest of the Children of Westcrown that stayed mount up on the horses and prepare to head back to town.
Arael looks around at the horses and doubled-up riders, "What do you all think? Should we all go back together or split up close to the city and have some walk back? We definitely need to clean up any blood."
"Splitting up sounds good. I need's to see Jacovo anyway's, ya coming with me Gorvio?"
Emmett places the potion in a secure place on his person and calls back his familiar.
"Coran, that was quite moving. You've given Egder a reason to smile in the Afterlife. I will come right away to town. On horseback, though I will unmount once at the Gate and ask for someone to lead my horse while I walk beside..."
Since Jo's horse is loaded up with swords and xbows, he will return also to the stable.
Jo wants nothing to do with anything marked with hellknight markings so he will have broken the shields along with the armor.
"Thank you Emmett, I tried my best, I think I am going to head right to the safe house, seeing I am supposed to be arrested I can't be wandering Westcrown to long."
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Moondark curses, "Gorvio's on his way! He had to stop and get the horses back under control. I don't know what got into them, but you're lucky no one was more seriously hurt. Everyone will be back soon. I wouldn't mention anything about them being late though. They are certain to be in a bad mood and you know we had a lawyer along."
bluff
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Gorvio looks panicked, "Oh no! Seriously hurt?!? What happened? Is Gorvio all right?" He steps further into the street and looks toward the gate. "Oh please tell me everyone is all right and they'll be back soon."
Tarvi looks worriedly at Moondark. It looks like she's hoping you'll take the lead.
The rest of the group makes their way back toward the city. Just out of sight of the city, everyone except Gorvio, Emmett, Jo, and Xainae get off the horses and prepare to return in a couple of groups on foot. Arael insists that he should reenter the city alone in case his description was provided to the dottari prior to his capture. Janiven, Amaya, Ermolos, and Rizzardo head out ahead of Arael and offer Coran to join their group if he wishes.
A few minutes later, the three of you and Gorvio ride up to the city gate. One of the dottari guards hails you, "Greetings travelers. What business have you in Westcrown?"
Jo looks to Emmett to answer.
"I think that would be better than traveling in alone." Coran has a odd look on his face and looks at his holy symbols.
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Moondark motions Jacovo to settle down, "Like I said, it was minor, but I wouldn't want word to get out that anyone was injured on one of your horses. They'll be back soon I'm sure. I won't tell anyone about this incident if you don't. As far as I'm concerned we never even rented horses from you. OK?"
Emmett looks at the gard, visibly annoyed: "Dear, dear, no need to make so much noise. Somebody might actually see me... with a horse! Father would disapprove... We went gallivanting on horseback for an hour or so, we saw birds and even a fox. It's a nice change from the city if you ask me, but some of us have sterner parents than others. Anyhow, we are back home now, and soon, no one will know I like horse riding."
He then looks expectantly at the guard, kind of saying: Well, go on then!
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Janiven walks next to Coran on the return to Westcrown. "Thank you for all of your help there Coran. Without the group of you, we would never have been able to rescue Arael. Are you ok?"
"Very well, go on through then," the guard waves you on through the gate. Gorvio takes the lead and the other three of you make your way through the gate without difficulty. From the end of the street, you can see Jacovo's Stables at the other end. You can see a blonde-haired man in a light purple tunic striding into the stables.
Jacovo visibly relaxes, "Young lady. Don't worry. I'll keep quiet about things if you will. I'm only worried about my son. He's my only child."
I walk alongside Emmett, remaining silent. When I see the figure walk into the stables I glance over at Gorvio, "Would he be's the customer ya'r dad told us of? We should's hurry there, so we don't upset him's."
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Janiven looks sadly at Coran, "You're right. I only hope we can make a difference and that it doesn't cost any more lives like poor Egder. You know, you should definitely talk about this with Arael back at the church. At least Abadar is welcomed in Westcrown. Although maybe it helps to have connections like Vuiper Ghivel leading your congregation."
Gorvio looks up as Xianae points out the stranger, "Oh no! you're probably right. Let's hurry up." He spurs his horse to a canter to hurry to the stables.