Searching the two rooms downstairs, one appears to be a simple bedroom while the other is obviously a kitchen. Searching through you recover a single vial containing bright blue liquid. It is unmarked.
Everything else is simply worn down common household items.
As for the healing, the man finally regains consciousness, but upon seeing your undead features, promptly begins screaming like a madman and scrambling for a weapon.
Diplomacy or Intimidate perhaps?
Rumha lays decaying fingers on the man's shoulder and holds him in place. "Calm DOWN. Had we wanted you dead, I wouldn't have saved your life. We just want information, nothing more."
"Fear not, sir. We are victims of this blight, just as you are. We wish you no harm if you wish us the same."
Victor stands back, watching the others try to calm the human man with his arms crossed. 'is fool'll open 'is wounds back up like 'is, the Gravebound man thinks to himself, a neutral look on his face.
After finding the Varus shows the strange vial to Ewen, wondering if he knows what is is, having heard the man was knowledgeable on such things.
"Hey, have a look at this, any ideas?"
The man still seems shaken and quite scared but he stop screaming.
"I... I thought everyone died..."
He glances at your bodies.
"Has... has everyone come back... as undead?"
"Well, we don't know about everyone, but we sure as hell did. Honestly we don't even know what happened here. Feel like telling us why everything's dead and we're walled in?" Bernd pauses for a moment. "It might motivate us not to eat you."
Varus sniffs the potion, not able to place the strange smell and unwilling to try any harder.
Victor chuckles at Bernd's threat, but doesn't say anything further.
Ewen grabs the potion and stares at it for a few seconds...
Craft(Alchemy):
"Not sure what this is, looks familiar but I can't pinpoint it, I'm a bit distracted from my current state of being, I can try again later."
Perception
"I... I left this place years ago... I only returned in hopes of recovering my family's remains. As for why y'all are dead... I really can't say. We knew the land was cursed mind you, that's why the Wall was built. Recently though, some monstrosities have been crawling out of the forests though. But that's all I know. Honest."
===
Victor grunts his disapproval. "So nothin' we di'n't a'ready know. If he ain't gonna bleed out, I say we leave him and keep goin'," he suggests, still leaning against the wall. He motions in the general direction of the Wall, saying, "E'en if he does know about what's goin' on o'er there, it's still betta t' go check on it, ourselves."
"How big is the wall? How did you cross it? Is it well patrolled? What is the state of the outside world? How large of an area is cursed?" Bernd continues to hammer the man with questions.
"I crossed it by sheer luck... They don't tend to watch too much for people coming into this place mind ya. As to how? I had a local alchemist brew me an invisibility potion... costly, but it worked... As for the rest of the world... well everything's pretty much the same except for here. The entire land is cursed mind you. The wall keeps in the entire area. They've got ships bordering the seas around the realm as well... And yes, the wall is patrolled quite heavily... I don't think anything even makes it to the wall without being sniped down..."
The man seems to be getting used to your appearance and has calmed down a bit.
Rumha readies himself to hurt the man in case they are dealing with a spellcaster. "So you're just a farmer? Why did you groan when that bat downstairs got smashed? Sounds like a familiar to me. Or is there someone else in the house?"
"Bat? He was there when I got here, but he wasn't doing no harm... I thought you were murderous assassins come to kill the living and feast on his flesh... though you did come close to killing me..."
"What do you mean by this land? A whole kingdom? Who cursed this place?"
Varus waits and listens while the man is questioned. He doesn't seem to be telling anything useful but is also no threat. "Tell us where the weakest part of the wall seems to be. Is there no gate?"
"There is a gate... heavily defended of course... and yes, the entire province has been sealed away... I really don't know much more than that, I was very little when I fled this land."
At that moment, you hear the sound of hoofbeats coming from outside.It's still faint, but approaching fast.
Kobayashi listens intently to the man's story, leaning against the wall in a relaxed pose.
At the sound of hooves, he wheels around and readies his weapon. He goes to peek out the nearest window, attempting to not reveal his presence at the same time.
"Now who the devil could this be?"
"Urrruh?" Bernd says at the sound of hoofbeats, cocking his head. "Does anyone else alive know you're here?"
Varus stands up fully alert. Trying to determine the direction of the sound. His first thought was Cazal but he quickly dismissed that. He drew his bow again and said to the man, "Quiet, unless we tell you to speak if you want to live." He heads downstairs.
Ewen draws back from his position at the front entrance when he hears the hoofbeats to quickly consult with the others.
"Guys, we're sitting ducks in here.
If we go outside we might have options to retreat, but since it sounds like riders coming, they'll be faster than us in the open.
With only one entrance this place is defendable, as long as it does not get set on fire.
Whatever we do, I urge you to not open hostilities right away. If whoever is coming attacks us, fair game, let them have it, but please please don't throw the first stone this time, ok? What are your suggestions?"
Kobayashi, from your vantage point you spy three riders coming out of the mists, clad in armor and bearing arms.
They're still around a hundred feet away but are coming towards your direction.
"Pretend we're not here."
Victor grumbles at the thought of missing a good fight, but keeps quiet inside the house.
Kobayashi whispers to his teammates.
"Three riders coming in our direction. They look ready for battle and are approaching quickly. What do you think, shall we announce our presence?
"Let's see if they ride by."
The riders halt in front of the farmhouse. There are three of them, the first one bearing a cape.
He dismounts from his steed and calls out, "Is anybody home? We're looking for survivors. Please, if you're there, answer!"
Victor glares towards the direction of the voice, his mouth twisting into a rictus grin. However, he doesn't move or speak, in order to not anger his companions. I hope 'ey come t' us. 'ey can't git mad at me f'r fightin' back i' I di'n't start it! he thinks to himself, his clawed fingers tighening around his arms as he waits, still leaning against a wall with his arms crossed. He gives the wounded farmer a look that says Say anything and I will end you, his horrific grin making him look absolutely terrifying.
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Bernd squeezing out a negative energy fart, is thankful that he no longer has a fleshy bum to vibrate and make noise. He holds stock still, a grin on his face as well. Silent, but deadly. Hehehehehe.
Varus listens to the voices but something doesn't add up. survivors from twenty years ago? That doesn't make any sense... survivors of what? This might be news
Sense motive (by listening) (+2 if human for a 20 yay)
"Are these undead or alive? Where would the have gotten horses? What think you all? Shall we respond? Kobayashi whispers.
Stealth
Perception (25 against human)
Varus sneaks to the side of the building their sound was coming from. He took out his small mirror and keeping out of sight used it to try and find out who they were, how well armored and how many.
Hearing no answer from you, and not seeming to notice your presence or at least, not acknowledge it, the rider repeats his previous message.
Whoever is still next to the man sees him move to the window... whether to alert the riders or not, you don't know.
Having a flash of insight as to what might happen if the riders continue and actually find everyone else in Nalvallen, Ewen grabs the man with one hand and quietly whispers:
"Sh, sh. Talk to them if you must, be smart and I promise we'll let you go. Mention us, shout or do anything else to alert them, and there will be blood. We'll just let the big guy over there handle it, he can beat them to death with their own horses. Think about that when you talk, and speak loud enough so we can hear what you are saying."
He let's the man go and whispers to the others closeby:
"Sorry, no time do discuss, I'll explain later, trust me on this. Bernd, Kobayashi... try to get into a position so you can shoot the riders in case they get alerted and try to escape. Take them out if they do. Victor, follow me to the stairs we need to be able to charge them at signs of trouble. We can't afford our presence to be announced to the world uncontrolled. Go."
He moves to the stairs as silently as possible, hoping that the former farmer got the message and won't do anything stupid or rash, and that the others understand without long explanations.
Bluff to make him believe Victor is capable of flinging horses around:
Stealth:
Victor says nothing, his rictus grin growing impossibly wider. I thought you would never ask seems to radiate from the Gravebound oracle as he nods at Ewen. He flexes his clawed hands, ready for battle.
Varus hears some creaking upstairs and wonders what might be going on.
Bernd will ready his bow and move to the head of the steps, keeping out of sight.
Bernd will ready his bow and move to the head of the steps, keeping out of sight.
Kobayashi does the same, sheathing his Wakizashi in favor of his shortbow.
Rumha keeps a sharp eye on the farmer to make sure he doesn't try to pass secret warnings or messages on to the cavalry.
Varus, you see the riders still as they were. They have not noticed you.
===
The farmer moves to the window and hails the riders. "Aye, I live... have you come to apprehend me? Take me away from my homeland?"
The rider in charge grimaces.
"You know very well the laws forbid anyone from crossing the wall.We cannot let you stay here. You know that fiends walk these lands now."
The farmer responds.
"Fiends? No, unfortunate souls perhaps..."
He glances back towards Bernd and whispers.
"Perhaps you should let your presence be known...?"