Judah was used to horrible monsters materializing out of nowhere, so when the creature appeared, Judah didn't react at all. Not at first anyway. He was about to say something snarky to it, when it bit the hell out of Lorant and vanished again.
"Hey!" Judah snapped, still not quite getting it. "He's on our side!"
Then Malthus explained what it was and Judah blanched. "Nevermind. Uh. F%$~."
He hefted his crossbow, circled up with the others, and waited.
The strange looking flying things burst from the trees and circled, The small flock had far too many wings and claws for only three bodies.
"Nothing more Ustalav than fighting weird with weird," Lorant comments.
Cassiel hisses in pain before divine healing fills his wound...
...and then he retaliates!
The alchemist hurls a bomb at the area next to the spider...
It explodes with force damage!
If it takes splash as well then add 5 more damage.
Despite the spider's venom sapping his strength, Lorant grits his fangs and manages to keep it from weakening him further. He glares at the creature, a wicked grin coming to his face.
"And now the predator becomes the prey."
He strikes at the creature anew.
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Cassiel swings and misses. Lorant's blow connects, but it does not penetrate the creature's thick hide. Mathus' bombs meet with more success and the creature recoils, right into Judah's swarm and the sights of his crossbow. Badly burned and bleeding, the creature again fades away into the ether. You ready yourselves for another attack, but it does not come. After about 10 minutes, it becomes apparent that the creature has fled.
Cassiel growls. "Yeah, you'd better stay away."
He turns to pick up the deceased Aleece. "...we should let them know."
Dammit, if only we moved faster...
The doctor immediately moved to Lorants side as the creature fades away, rendering aid.
Judah looked up at the circling flock of things that were certainly not birds and gave a half-hearted wave. "Thanks."
The things dispersed back to the trees and the shadows, keeping watch for a few more minutes before disappearing back wherever they'd come from.
Judah turned to Lorant and Malthus, clearly worried. "Is he going to be alright?"
Thanks to Mathus' aid, Lorant straightens up and seems less ill than he did during the fight.
"I'll be okay, Judah, but thank you. And thank you, Mathus."
Lorant goes to help Cassiel carry Aleece's body.
Wholly unsatisfying outcome that, the doctor says sadly.
Judah nodded his solemn agreement. "At least we found her body. Hopefully that will be some comfort to her family."
He tilted his head in thought. "Why did she come all the way out here in the first place? Spiders don't usually drag their food around, right?"
"Were I to venture a guess, the spider had some other kind of bait it used to lure her just as she was used as bait to lure us," Lorant replies. "Most spiders tend not to have human-like faces either, though, so for all we know this one COULD have been sadistic enough to play with its food."
"That thing is wounded. It might recover and keep this up. We should figure out what it's using for bait," Judah said, starting to look around.
He had no idea what he was looking for, but he was hoping he was smarter than a spider.
"Suppose I could try to track it again."
He lowers himself to the ground to see if it's near.
I think we'd be better off getting out of here... we've been lucky. VERY lucky.
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There is no sign of the phase spider, however, you do find a glass vial containing a swallow of a gold-colored liquid, a magnifying glass with a gold handle, a small wooden box, a walnut traveling case, and a small jar of liquid with numerous small objects floating within, along with the remains of previous victims.
Lets get while the going is good... but maybe we can do something for these remains?
Lorant takes the items and secures them in his pack. On the subject of the remains, he nods.
"It may take some time to sort them, but we should be able to figure out who's who and bury them, along with Aleece. I'd recommend cremating them, though. The dead never rest easy in these lands, especially when their deaths came in such a brutal fashion. I've never understood WHY cremation never became standard practice here in Ustalav. Or worldwide for that matter. Think of how much fewer zombies and skeletons we'd have to deal with in our line of work!"
"...I think you just answered your own question, Lorant." Cassiel snorts.
"Cremation just makes undead that are ghosty, and made of fire," Judah shrugged. "I'd rather deal with skeletons."
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You gather the remains and return to the encampment. The carnies are saddened by the news of Aleece's death, particularly her sisters, who sob incessantly. True to his word, Kaleb gives you a dagger in an ornate case, saying, "This weapon is enchanted against shapeshifters. May it serve you well.
"Reluctant as I am to ask for another favor, would you mind accompanying us into town and scouting the road ahead? I cannot offer payment, but you are welcome to use one of our wagons."
Lorant bows politely to Kaleb.
"We'd be honored, Kaleb. Company on the road is always a good thing in these lands."
Assuming the others accept, Lorant mingles with the carnie folk during the trip, doing his best to comfort Aleece's sisters, as Andoletta commands her faithful to do.
The doctor just shudders...
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Upon your arrival in Lepidstadt, you find an almost carnival atmosphere in the city. The trial of the Beast of Lepidstadt has already commenced, and things don’t look good for the creature. A huge pyre in the shape of a man—Lepidstadt’s famous Punishing Man—has been erected in the main circle outside the courthouse, and locals eagerly add fuel to the effigy in preparation for the Beast’s execution.
Lepidstadt is a small city on the banks of the Lesser Moutray River, most famous for its university and the strange standing stones outside the city called the Spiral Cromlech. Recently renovated, Lepidstadt is a bustling, lively city of students and academics, with newly bricked streets, wide plazas, and grandiose structures built from imported wood and stone. Away from the university and city center, however, the narrow, winding streets of Lepidstadt show the signs of its age, with dilapidated hovels, crumbling stone walls, and cramped courtyards.
What do you wish to do first?
Lorant grimaces at the sight of the Punishing Man.
"I'm used to seeing that in small villages, not in a cosmopolitan city like this."
He looks to the others.
"Let's find Judge Daramin, so we can make that delivery and complete our obligation to Petros."
"Nice to see that civilization is barely holding back the tide of barbarism, as always." Cassiel snarks.
I wish I could say more for these citizens of the Palatine, but... well... savagery often lies just beneath the surface.
"Ravengro's people were fearful, but at least if you took the time they could get used to you," Lorant comments.
"Yeah, welcome to the city," Judah snorted. "The bigger civilizations get, the less civilized they tend to be."
I'd say 'civilised' is an ideal... but one that suffers to the anger of the mob
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Judge Daramid lives in a fine townhouse surrounded by art in the center of Lepidstadt. Embreth Daramid is one of the justices of Vieland and a magistrate of Lepidstadt.
Judge Daramid invites you into her home when you arrive. She is in her sixties, with gray hair pulled back tightly into a bun and icy blue eyes. She is a stern, no-nonsense woman who appears to be all business.
She asks you if you have completed the tasks in Lorrimor’s will, and graciously accepts the book left to her.
"I suggest that, if you have not done so, you deliver the other tomes to Dr. Crowl at the university. When you have done this, return to me and we will finish this business with the Professor's will." She pauses a moment as if in reflection.
"Please, stay a moment. I am in need of some assistance and if Petros trusted you, then perhaps I can trust you as well.
"I believe that there is a cancer in Lepidstadt, a darkness lurking behind the shadow of a scapegoat. For many years the people of Lepidstadt have laid all their ills at the door of a creature known as the Beast of Lepidstadt--murders, thefts, and terror have all been attributed to the Beast, but I know that many of those stories are exaggerations or simply untrue.
"I also know that some people have different stories to tell about the creature--about its kindness and humanity, of how it has rescued loved ones or helped those in distress. Now that the time has arrived for such kindness to be repaid, however, no one dares to step forward and challenge the Beast’s reputation.
"Now I have a fair sense of justice, and it is my fear that the Beast will not receive a fair trial. The people of Lepidstadt have blamed the Beast for too much and for too long, and they want it to pay for its crimes, whether those crimes are real or imagined.
"In addition, I have some concerns about the crime for which the Beast was finally apprehended--the break-in and theft at Lepidstadt University. I am convinced that the Beast’s capture at the university was not all it appeared to be, for why would a creature that is intelligent knowingly enter the university, where it was certain to be trapped? Now, to publicly announce my suspicions would be both professionally and politically suicidal. As one of the three justices presiding over the Beast’s trial, I am unable to openly intervene, other than insisting that the Beast be properly defended in court.
"What I really need is a group of people without local bias to uncover the real truth about the Beast and its alleged crimes. The Beast’s legally appointed advocate, a barrister named Gustav Kaple, is hopelessly over his head and needs help--ideally someone to gather evidence about the Beast’s alleged crimes and stand up in court to be questioned by the prosecution. Such speakers must have bravery in spades and silver tongues to match, to ensure that if there is more to the Beast’s story, justice will be done. If the Beast is indeed guilty, then I can rest easier at night knowing that I gave it a fair trial.
"I am prepared to offer you the sum of 100 platinum pieces each if you investigate the Beast of Lepidstadt on my behalf while expressly keeping me out of the equation, as any hint of collaboration in your investigations would put my legal objectivity into question.
"I will deny any involvement in the matter if pressed, but if you do get to the bottom of the matter, I will be most grateful."
I am your man Judge Daramid... by helping you maybe this is another way I can repay Professor Lorrimor.
Judah put his face in his hands, rubbed his temples and muttered something about how much he hated being right.
Then he took a breath and said "Fine."
"The good Judge's reputation precedes her," Lorant comments as they make their way to her abode. "Locals say her judgments are as fair as Pharasma's own."
When they arrive, Lorant is the one to knock at the door.
"Good morrow, Judge Daramid. Squire Lorant Endronil of the Knights of Ozem. We have a delivery for you from the late Petros Lorrimor, and I believe further business of his to discuss."
He notices her demeanor and his brow grows furrowed with concern.
"Petros' passing seems to have impacted you as much as it did us. If you need anything, please, let us know. I'd make a poor grandchild of Andoletta if I did not offer comfort to you, especially seeing as it appears you and Petros were close."
He listens as Judge Daramid explains the situation to them, and his expression of concern becomes one of surprise.
"That is NOT what I expected to hear when I asked you to let us know if you needed something," he comments dryly. "But I understand your concern. I know all too well what it's like to be wrongfully accused of being a monster simply because of a doleful countenance, and the unreasoning hatred of a mob driven by fear. My companion, Squire Hawke and I, we'd make poor champions of Iomedae if we allowed an injustice like what you describe stand. On my honor, as a Squire of the Knights of Ozem, as a servant of Iomedae, Pharasma and Andoletta all, you'll have my aid in this."
He makes the sign of the sword, traces the spiral and puts his hands together with a fluttering motion as he names each goddess.
Cassiel nods in agreement.
"Right. Where should we start?"
Indeed... good question. Maybe we could examine this 'Beast'??
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You decide it would be best to complete your mission first, and head to Lepidstadt University. When you arrive at the university, you are greeted by the sight of several builders and craftsmen working to repair damage to the Antiquities Department.
Dr. Montagnie Crowl is a Professor of Antiquities at the university. An eccentric but likable man, he is prone to waving his arms about enthusiastically. He meets you in the department’s combination library and workshop. The workshop is slowly being cleaned up, but it is still a mess. Dr. Crowl is saddened to learn of his old friend and colleague Lorrimor’s death and accepts the bequeathed objects with sad gratitude.
"Hey, uh, Doc?" Judah asked after they'd passed the professor's books off. "I'm a, ah, sort of amateur antiquities collector. I was hoping you might have a few minutes to answer some questions?"
Lorant nods as he hands the books over to Dr. Crowl.
"I trust you'll know what to do with...some of these. As valuable as knowing your enemy can be, that knowledge does need proper context. Without that context, it's better off as kindling."