Abelard's a nice enough chap, and handy to have around in a fight, but he's not the brightest. He doesn't notice much.
"There's a dead person stuck in the water under the pier. I can't tell what killed him. Approach cautiously", Parai warns, holding her mace at the ready as she steps closer, moving to the square on the pier that is closest to the corpse. She doesn't try to reach down into the water yet, though, holding herself at the ready for any attackers instead and scanning the area with her eyes.
Korva will move her lights so the pier is well lit, keeping a few feet back so she doesn't get in the way of the fighters.
"Good to know, thanks." Abelard gives a quick smile to Parai before putting on some gloves. Touching rotting bodies with your bare hands lacks class.
Onorix's grip on his swords tighten as he sees the body. "We really ought to have asked what Laria's friend looked like. For all we know this could be what's left of him." He says sadly.
The water remains still and calm as you stare at the body, wedged under the pier. Light flickers against the surface, and from behind you, opposite the pier, you hear a faint scuffling noise, followed by a gentle, quick shushing.
Updated my position.
Abelard turns, curious at the latest distraction. He looks at his companions, unsure whether to call out and see who's there or whether to stay quiet for now.
Given the way Onorix looks, it seems probable that he doesn't need to be warned. He shifts into a position more fitting for combat and waits to see what emerges from the lake.
Parai keeps her attention on the water.
From the darkness opposite the water, you hear a faint voice, barely more than a whisper. "Shhh...there is a beast in the water. He is ugly, and patient, and will feed if you touch his lake. Who are you, and why do you come here?"
Parai modulates her voice to be equally faint to the other voice. "We're...adventurers", she answers with no small amount of caution, "sent by...a certain someone, to check on an acquaintance of hers. Who are you and what are you doing here?"
"Have you come to...kill us? To hurt my sisters and I?" The voice in the darkness quavers, obviously afraid, more than anything.
"Not unless you have hostile intentions toward the city of Kintargo. Do you?"
Abelard shifts from foot to foot, uneasy, as he waits for the answer which might well determine whether violence is in the offing.
Onorix doesn't have much to add, so he remains quiet, content with listening.