Tharnik watches the group briefly and then heads over to the door to make sure it's locked. While there, he sneaks a peek out the window to see if unwanted attention (ie.. a crowd with pitchforks and burning torches) has gathered or if any unseemly types are sulking about.
Madeline watches the other party-members actions and reactions, calmly awaiting space in which to speak her mind.
Well, I am unsure about some other people's plans, though I for one know mine." She looks cooly at the men standing about the room
"The will stated a month in which we secure and watch out for, in other words assist, Miss Lorrimor. Which is exactly what I shall do." She turns and offers a small smile towards Miss Lorrimor. "As for a box? It, it's contents and said contents trip to some far off musty academy can wait. The inanimate certainly gives way before the needs of the living." Madeline frowns and moves closer to Kendra,
"Perhaps we can share our stories and tales of your Father? The better to have him live on in our memories?" She suggests, glancing to the others in the room, "Perhaps such tales will make us all less strangers to one another, when clearly none of us were strangers to the good, late, Professor."
"I see no problem with this arrangement, other than lackin' a place to stay. I am, after all, known for my patience in this matters, and would gladly wait two months if I had to. With that said - I could use a little shut-eye, if only to collect my thoughts."
The dwarf gives a hearty smile, and can only await great things from this little get-together. After all - they all seemed coordinated enough to get things done.
"I see no problem with this arrangement, other than lackin' a place to stay. I am, after all, known for my patience in this matters, and would gladly wait two months if I had to. With that said - I could use a little shut-eye, if only to collect my thoughts."
The dwarf gives a hearty smile, and can only await great things from this little get-together. After all - they all seemed coordinated enough to get things done.
Yes, this is a good time to rest. It is late, the bugs are dead. And we all have much before us.
Madeline nods and smiles as well.
"A good idea, a sound night's sleep should do us all a world of good." She turns to Kendra and quietly offers to help assist the other woman with her preparations for bed, since Kendra has no maids for such purposes at the moment.
Smith stands quietly, seemingly forgotten.
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Kendra Lorrimor listens to each of you, nodding in turn, and waits patiently for you to finish. When the silence in the room abounds, she clears her throat and speaks, "Of course, of course. We're all very tired, with the ordeal today and the broken window and the will and..."
Her voice trails off and she bows her head, choking back tears that are far too evident. She briefly holds up a hand, palm open, to indicate she'll only be a moment and delicately plucks a silk and lace cloth from her bag, drying her eyes. When she finally looks up, she offers you a weak smile, but it does little to hide her pink nose and puffy eyes. She clears her throat very quietly, holding the cloth once again to her face, and then continues.
"Of course, it would only be proper and wise to have you stay here. My father would have had it no other way, especially in a storm like this."
As if to illustrate the point, a flash of lightning streaks across the sky, clearly visible in the window as it illuminates the room. It casts strange shadows, but is gone as quickly. The soft roll of thunder in the distance, several seconds later, attests to the storms size.
Kendra offers you another smile.
"If you gentlemen wouldn't mind installing those storm shudders, as you suggested, you'd have my gratitude. I'll finish the tea with Miss Madeline's help - if you don't mind of course - and then we'll prepare rooms for each of you. My home isn't big, but I believe I can accommodate each of you."
Kendra looks on, waiting for each of you to answer.
Madeline offers a supportive touch upon Kenra's arm. Madeline trying to show with a look that she understands exactly the feelings the other woman is experiencing.
Creel nods in response to Madame Lorrimor's suggestion.
"Thank you Madame.It is not a night to be wandering"
"Madam Peshstussle, did you find the storm shutters in the basement?"
"Gentlemen, Mr. Smith, shall we begin with the upstairs?"
Creel, using the excuse of installing the shutters will try a detect evil in every room. He is not checking people. He is trying to see if there are traces of real Evil about. The bug attack and the storm have his a bit jumpy."
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Kendra turns to Madeline and smiles, "Thank you again." She then turns to the gentlemen, "If you'll dispose of those 'things' you killed upstairs, I'd be grateful, as well." Kendra begins to turn and walk into the kitchen when she stops, suddenly, and turns around.
"Of course, while you're upstairs, feel free to bring down extra blankets from the chest at the back of the room. You should find some throw pillows in there, as well. It's not much, but beside the fire, it should be more than adequate."
Keeping quiet for now he decided to wait until things quieted down later that night to get her before she retired for the night. Tired? Of course he was. His long journey only found him running around, keeping his rage and frustration barely in check and now the blood loss was going to his head.
He held the shutters in place as creel adn the strange comrade of Madeline's went to work attaching it. The hammering sent his mind adrift in memory.
Rendel watched in mute fascination as the undertaker took to his craft, building the simple wooden coffins using measurements taken from memory. Rendel didn't know why the man seemed so eager to be done with his work, or why his mother and father took so much care in the selection of the wood and nails to build them. He only understood that it had somethign to do wiht bringing the dead peace.
As the man began work on the third and smallest of the boxes he looked up at Rendel who sat quietly in the door of the shop and spoke.
"So you're Sir Bladetwist's boy eh?" The undertaker said wiping the sweat from his wrinkled brow. Rendel nodded.
Continuing his work the undertaker continued. "Can't say I like your parents overly much. Nosy folk who are pushy and think we common folk don't know better." The undertaker shook his head. "These folk though" He motioned towards the other two boxes. "They were good folk. It's just a shame that old Marlon took to the bottle when he should have looked to the gods."
He continued his work for a moment as Rendel continued to watch. "You know the neighbors say they can still hear the little boys laughter at night?"
Rendle blinked his quiet observation turning into genuine curiosity. The undertaker smiled. "They say that he comes out at night sometimes."
The udnertaker grinned humorlessly, about to let him in on a village secret.
As the night progressed he waited, and brooded in silence as the others conversed. He didn't know if he could trust any of them, just, not until he found some answers from Kendra first.
When things calm down again and he is shown to his room he approaches Kendra again.
"If you please we must speak in private. It is a matter that cannot wait for morning. Your safety and ours depends on me knowing exactly what I need to know."
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Kendra, returning with tea, sits with the rest of the party and makes small talk. After a time, she wishes everyone well and then shows them to their rooms. She has three rooms upstairs (one with a broken, but shuttered window). She offers the dwarf the first (with the broken window) and says,
"I suspect, sir, from your looks, you'll have little issue braving a little bit of dampness. Your kind, I believe, are used to living under the mountains, no? If you're more comfortable in the great room, of course, you may sleep downstairs by the fire."
Then, Kendra shows Madeline and Mr. Smith to their room.
"I'm going to assume that you and your servant will be staying in the same room. Please, make yourself comfortable."
Finally, she shows Tharnik and Creel to the last room.
"If you gentlemen don't mind sharing, I think you'll both be comfortable in here. I have double beds, normally for guests, that should suit you. Of course, if either of you prefer the hardwood floors before the fire in my great room, you are welcome to wander downstairs."
Lastly, she prepares a larger couch downstairs in the great room for Rendel. While she does, she makes small talk, trying her best to lighten the mood. Seeing Rendel's distress, she finally turns and addresses him directly.
She smiles, carefully unfolding a blanket and laying it out.
"Perhaps, of course, you could tell me your name. While the others may have not noticed your reluctance to speak, I have. And with it, I'll listen to your tale."
With that, Miss Lorrimor turns, sits, and faces Rendel - giving him a look that is both kind but also a little more stern than he expects. She places her hands in her lap, folding them carefully, and waits for him to speak.
As each of you settle into your rooms, the rain begins to lighten, and the storm seems to settle into a light rhythm, the echo of thunder following the distant flash of thunder.
In the bedroom with Tharnik?
"So, this has been a strange day. I wonder how much danger Madame Lorrimor is in? Do you think it would be wise to keep a watch tonight?"
Creel speaks as he shrugs off the scalemail.
"Most likely just paranoia but maybe we should see what the others think. I did not want to bring the idea up in from of Madame."
Assuming we are done with the shutters. I will gather the stirge bodies and, unless they are known for being good eating, toss them in whatever midden is available. I will take a moment to say a small prayer for them and carefully destroy the bodies. Making sure the heads are severed and at some distance from the bodies.
Rendel sighed feeling the weight of his long journey start to over come him.
"And as I've been here the questions have only piled up. I cannot sleep comfortably here with the knowledge that the man I've been searching for may have bled his life out in these very walls, or the streets, or any where I might walk."
Rendel makes a gesture indicating the outside. "On top of this it appears I've come in on the wind of troubled times, on the wake of something that forces honest men to accost funeral goers with the threat of violence. What is most disturbing is that they believed your father to be a necromancer. I know of necromancers to a small degree. Enough to know they are right to be afraid.
I am not here to judge your father. That business is between him and the gods, a business I'm sure will find him favorable. What I want to know is what strange happenings have occurred in this town that would make them fear your father so? Why would your father simultaneously desire this chest to be away from you quickly and prevent its carriers from departing? Most importantly, I want to know how, if at all, these things are connected.
As to your first question" Rendel seemed to mull it over for a bit before answering. "I am Rendel, Knight and Truthseeker for the Lady Iomedae." He added. "And in the morning I'd very much like to see this chest."
Sense Motive:
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"So, this has been a strange day. I wonder how much danger Madame Lorrimor is in? Do you think it would be wise to keep a watch tonight?"
Creel speaks as he shrugs off the scalemail.
"Most likely just paranoia but maybe we should see what the others think. I did not want to bring the idea up in from of Madame."
"It has been, but I don't think 'strange days' and the good professor were ever far apart." Tharnik sits down on the bed across from Creel and begins to strip off his boot, cloak, and hide armor. He sets them in a neat pile, very carefully to place everything. You notice he is very deliberate and drops nothing.
"Watch? Perhaps we could take turns and sit by the fire? I don't see any reason to alert the whole house. Not unless you think more of those giant bugs are bound for us" Tharnik says.
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...
Kendra listens to Rendel's tale without interruption, keeping a blank face that is impossible to read. When Rendel's finishes, she stands and addresses him.
"Mr. Bladetwist. My father just died." Kendra is short, and to the point. For a moment, you detect what might be anger or even extreme sadness, but it's incredibly hard to read and Kendra masks her current emotions well. She continues.
"I don't know how you were raised, but we try not to speak ill of the dead in these parts. We have far too much to worry about. My father died in a tragic accident and I have still to make my peace. Please don't be so gullible as to awesome some simple folk, afraid of all that is educated and civilized, represent the..."
Kendra doesn't finish. Instead, she turns away and begins to walk away. When she gets to the landing of the stairs, she stops and turns.
"Tomorrow, all of us will look in the chest to see what was so important that my father felt it necessary to entrust it to a group of strangers instead of his beloved daughter.. and in that, you sir, will find your appeasement. I wish it were as easy for me. Good night sir."
With that, Kendra takes one of the oil lamps on the tables in the living room and ascends the stairs, her shoes 'clicking' a little louder than normal as she does, as if each must make its own exclamation point to illustrate her point....
He had not heard the part about an accident. Though perhaps that should have been the first question he should have asked. For now however it was probably best to leave her be.
She was emotional, though she hid it well. Mayhaps one of the others would find out more?
Ah, the others. That was an interesting question. They seemed a fine enough lot. The woman and the companion seemed strangest, the companion in particular had an odd air about him that he had not the time to study. The half orc had admitted to wrong doing in the past. Unsurprising given his kind. The dwarf was much like the rest of his folk, hardy and gruff but friendly enough. But again he had such an odd air about him. He almost wish everyone had told their tale before going to bed tonight. The only one he might be able to trust was Creel. The man seemed to be a Paladin. But any fool in armor can look the part of paladin. He'd need to test him to know for sure.
Trust, mistrust, lies, and paranoia. This was being an inquisitor. Lifting his sword up he looked at it for a long moment before seakin to himself in the fading light. "How I was raised? I was raised to seek justice and truth for the living first. The dead can handle their own affairs. And I must handle mine."
He shifted himself to one knee with the sword held with the scabbard tip down and began to pray. It was a long prayer meant to be repeated over and over during a knights vigil. It was a prayer for guidance and courage against the coming struggle the knight was sure to face in his life. He said it only once before falling into a fitful sleep holding the hilt of his sword tightly.
Not unless you think more of those giant bugs are bound for us" Tharnik says.
"Yeah, you’re right. The house is buttoned up tight no need to cause a ruckus. <chuckles> "Heck this is likely the most heavily armed house in the village." "Besides," He listens to the rain pounding on the walls. "weather is too bad for Evil to be about." "Get some sleep; I'll wake you in a bit."
Creel grabs his halberd, and a book and scroll case from his pack and leaves the room. He checks the doors and glances into the main room before sitting down at the kitchen table. Taking pen and ink from the scroll case he begins to write in the book.
'...Day one, after the funeral……"
Creel writes for a time and then closing the book picks up his axe and wanders the house. Keeping a watch on the outside where he can. At the proper time he gathers up his gear and softly wakes Tharnik for the morning watch. Duty done he sinks rapidly into a deep resful sleep.
Come the morning:
Come the morning both are up early, though it is Smith who ventures first down to the bathing room to prepare his mistresses facilities. Madeline walks quietly down to the room, bare feet poking out from under her large over coat and disappears inside,with Smith standing a vigilant guard outside in the hall.
Eventually Madeline steps out, having taken the time to give her clothes a quick rinse and dry over the fireplace as well. She and Smith move then into the kitchen and see about preparing a meal to break every one's fast.
Madeline will look to Kendra over the morning meal,
"So, where in town should one go about advertising for servants?" She asks quietly.
Smith picks at the food before him on the plate, nibbling silently at the toast.
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At the proper time he gathers up his gear and softly wakes Tharnik for the morning watch. Duty done he sinks rapidly into a deep restful sleep.
"Mhmmahekaymm.. yeahyeah... inasecond..... Snnooooorrrr... Snoorrrr...." grumbles Tharnik.
After a while, he turns over, his reddish eyes shot through from what is obviously too little sleep. He looks down at his boots, staring for several minutes, before finally resigning himself to gathering them up and then putting them on. Again, he's very deliberate, taking his time with each bit of gear. Next, he throws over his rough hide armor, standing to adjust it in several places. Before tying his boots, he walks over to the fire and stirs it, sending a small shower of sparks sputtering into the darkness.
Several minutes later, he sits, ties his boots, and then stands again. He gathers the rest of his gear, tossing his red cloak over his shoulder.
He looks over at Creel, and begins to speak, only to realize he's fast asleep.
"Yeah, you sleep well."
He then wanders down stairs, checking doors and windows. He makes a point to check on the storm shutters and wanders the house, curiously looking over the odd items that the good professor has collected over the years.
When the sun finally begins to peek through the damp, grey dawn, Tharnik wanders into the kitchen and grabs some fruit. He sits down at the table, watching as people wake and thinking. He nods when Madeline comes down, giving her 'companion' a curious glance. When the two sit down, he asks,"Did you sleep well?"
Moments later, Kendra joins the three in the kitchen, her thick, expensive cotton robes gathered around her in a bundle. She yawns several times as she opens kitchen cabinets, gathering tea saucers and cups. After several more yawns, she retreats into the storage room just off from the kitchen. She comes back in with some water in a fine, silver kettle and sets it down on a strange burner. She fiddles with a metallic looking hose and then adjusts a few knobs, turning them until a gentle 'hiss' escapes the hose. Then, in a low voice, she mutters a few arcane words and the gas alights, a blue flame burning beneath the kettle.
"I'll have tea in a few minutes."
She looks over at Madeline, who's noble attempt at breakfast is more than adequate, and smiles. "I see we have fruit and toast this morning. I take it you found everything well enough?"
Madeline smiles,
"Yes, thank you. I hope I have done your pantry some small justice." She nods to the others.
"I actually found the sound of the rain upon the roof...soothing. The land of Alkenstar is a much dryer climate than here." Madeline happily sips daintily at the tea that Kendra prepares.
"So, we shall talk about hiring a little later, for now let us see what it is your father wishes transported to the University, shall we?" Madeline looks around at every one gathered in the room.
Smith, finished with the piece of toast, begins to pick up people's empty dishes and moves to prepare the sink for their arrival.
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Kendra sits at the table, picks up her tea, and sips it. She listens to Madeline talk, nodding at the comment about 'hiring' slightly. When Madeline mentions the chest, she sets the tea down and says, "I think it is better if we wait for everyone to awaken, eat, and refresh themselves first. Your group, as per my father's wishes..."
Kendra stops for a moment and then, before breaking down once more, offers another weak smile. She looks up and finishes, "...my late father's wishes were for you to remain in town for a month. I'm not certain as to why, but he seemed very excited about something shortly before his untimely passing. In either case, if you are to claim your coin and honor his wishes, you'll have plenty of time to look around the town and hire whomever you wish."
When Smith moves over to the sink, Kendra looks over and then back to Madeline.
"He needn't clean. One of my maid's should be by today. She'll handle all of the kitchen, as well as put the rest of house in order. I'll also have her fetch someone for the upstairs window, as well."
Madeline blinks and seems to take notice of Smith, then looks back to Kendra.
"Your father was a great...strength in helping myself deal with the loss of my parents." Madeline again offers a reassuring touch on Kendra's arm. "I would try and repay said debt..." Madeline is content to sit and just share 'space' with Kendra for the moment. Talk of the mundane things, such as servants, forgotten for the moment. She coughs politely,
"Yes, I had meant we all investigate the item in question." She smiles at Tharnik and the others gathered at the table.
Smith stills for a moment at his chores. His head turning to regard his Mistress, a questioning look upon his features. After but another moment he returns to the tasks at hand.
Creel walks into the kitchen. Hair still a little damp but otherwise very much collected.
"Morning everyone. Looks to be a fine day. Seems the storm blew itself out in the night."
"I want to thank you for putting me up. I know extra faces are not always welcome at a time like this. So ... thank you."
Creel glances at Tharnik and raises an eyebrow. Tharnik shakes his head, Creel nods.
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Tharnik, nodding as Creel enters, speaks, "I hope you slept well. Miss Lorrimor was early to rise this morning and we chatted briefly before Madeline awoke. Miss Lorrimor wanted to stay up, but I insisted she return to sleep. However, now that she's up, we're off for a quick walk while she fetches her maid and a handyman. I've offered to escort her. Will you let our other two companions know we'll be back shortly?"
With that, Kendra smiles at Creel and Madeline.Then, she says,"We shouldn't be long. I'm going to run upstairs, throw on some proper clothes, grab my bag, and we'll be off. I expect we'll be back in about an hour or two. That should give everyone enough time to eat, freshen up, and ready themselves for the day. I've a town to introduce you all too."
And with that, Miss Lorrimor departs.
Rendel glides into the room as the other two leave making note of their absence. Nodding politely to the other two he sits down to breakfast. He appears drier then before and a little stronger, but no less tired. His white hair showing the streaks of red previously hidden by the rain. HE ate silently for a moment letting his thoughts collect before he stated simply. "I spoke with Kendra last night about her father and the villagers."
He greatly accepted the blanket from Lorrimor's lass, and slept soundly near the broken window, the breeze from outdoors along with the rain nothing unknown to him - in fact, if he could do so safely, he'd have slept outside!
When morning comes, the stubborn fellow seems more than content to sit in the exact same position he was the evening before - he's at such peace one might mistake him for being deceased, though it's clear he's breathing.
He awakens to the smell of food, and though it does not interest him at first, he moves to meditate for a little while longer - this is why he has not said much to anyone today, after all.
He ceases when ready, and moves to the great room where everyone is gathering, only to close his eyes still on hitting the bottom. It's clear he's not fully awake.
"Grmhh.... Mornin', lads 'n' lasses!"
Creel smiles as Torthen enters.
"Good morning to you. Looks like you came to no harm sleeping in the night air."
He turns to Mr.X and his face grows more serious.
"Did you learn anything? I have been wanting to ask her myself but I fear we've hit things off on the wrong foot."
Creel smiles again.
"Speaking of getting off to odd starts. I do not think we have been formally introduced. By profession I am a "Holy light of Iomaede" but that is a overblown title for a wandering busybody." "Lately I've been working with some local millitias, teaching folks how to defend themselves and keep a weather eye out. I'm sure you know the drill. My name is Creel Candleman, Creel to my friends. I hope I can number you all among them."
Still smiling Creel sits back and sips some tea.
Without turning from his breakfast Rendel continued as fi expecting the question.
"It was...unproductive. But not fruitless. I'm afraid I do not have the delicate touch that was required. She is rather sensitive at the moment. I can say she chafes at the lack of trust her father apparently showed in her. I do not believe she understood the full extent and potential danger she may be facing. The professor traveled far and wide and met many a dangerous creature. It would not surprise me if he made more than a few enemies along the way. Then he leaves us with a box filled with unspecified objects that may put her at great risk. His notes? Perhaps. Perhaps not. That's what I want to see. I need ot know the extent of which we need to secure this box should those enemies come looking for it.
On top of this he stands accused of necromancy. It is a rather specific thing to be accused of. I'd suspect him of being accused of witch craft or consorting with demons before that true or false. I think I will pay a visit to one or more of those men today. There's something going on here beyond the fears of a beaten down and paranoid folk. Did you know that the professor died of some sort of accident?"
As to my name, it is Rendel, a Knight in the service of Iomedae. Though you already know we're all Knights. As to anything more specific as to my purpose here or my role within the Circles." He paused looking around the table. "It is unwise of me to openly speak about it."
Nope. No Holy symbol at all. Creel doesn't really see the need right now and he tries to travel light. As he will never get spells that need it I don't really see that changing.
Oh yeah the distrust train is 'a chugging along :7)
~will
"Necromancy huh. Knew one once." Creel sips his tea. "Necromancer that is. This little village, forests, a river; lovely place really." It was too small to support a priest but this is Ustalav and someone had to care for the dead."
Creel reaches for some fruit. "There was this old woman. Nothing but skin and bone held together by madness. She would talk to people who were not there." "Everyone in the village pitied her I guess, but she dressed the dead well and worked with the diggers to help them into the ground."
"I was there training the militia. Good honest folk but half of them would hold a pike upside down." "I had been there a few weeks, and things were going well when news came in that one of the outlying farm families had been wiped out."
"Disease, no one near enough to help. Nothing to be done."
"So the bodies were brought in for burial and Grandma Ichi got to work. There were five of them. Mother, Father, three little ones." "I helped as much as I could. Grandma managed but I could tell this was hard on her."
"It was raining the night after we buried them." "I was up writing a letter to a Priest I knew a couple of towns away. Asking if he knew of anyone suitable to set up a parish in the village, or at least swing by on a circuit. When there was a knock on my door. It was Grandma. She said, 'Come on, we're needed.' and walked into the rain." I grabbed my cloak and spear and followed. I didn't have the Halberd then."
"She led me to the graveyard. To that families grave in fact." "We stood in the rain."
"After a time, and with what felt like half a river soaking through my cloak I started to ask her what we were doing here. I got as far as saying 'What.." before she cut me off with 'Wait."
"It didn't take long after that. The ground over the graves was still fresh turned and the rain had made it more mud than soil. So the bodies didn’t have to work too hard when they rose.” ‘It was the mother and the father, never learned entirely why, but they rose all right. They were fresh enough you still see their hair, and the sores left by the diease.”
“I had no armor. The spear I was carrying would be about as effective as a harsh word against the risen dead.”
“Run Grandma, warn the militia! I’ll hold them here” I stepped between the old woman and the dead, ready to die..
“Stupid.” Grandma spoke from behind and off to one side. Turning I saw she had stepped around me and was standing near the disturbed graves.” “Now” she said and reached into the earth. A full arm length as I am sitting here. But that was nothing on what she pulled up.”
Creel’s eyes go distant, and his skin pales slightly with the memory.
“It was the children. Least I think it was. “She pulled them up as skeletons. Fresh white bone in the moonlight; no eyes, just bone. She pulled them up by their wrists. Three little hands held in hers.”
"Not that much more to tell really. The three skeletons tore the two dead to pieces. I stood around like a gormless fool and Grandma stood there with a satisfied smile on her face”
“Once it was over the skeletons just sank back into the earth. They took most of the parents bodies with them. I buried the rest. Suppose that was why she brought me along, come to think of it.” “I was kind of in shock as we walked back to the village Grandma and I.” ‘When she dropped me at my door she gave me the only explanation I am ever likely to get.”
“She killed them. Sacrifice. Diabolists. Better this way. Thank.”
“And then she walked away.”
Creel sets his empty cup on the table.
“I never did send that letter.”
Rendel said nothing and tried to show no emotion as Creel regaled him his dark tale. The cup in his hand was visibly shaking and by the end he had to put it down.
After a long awkward of silence Rendle jsut stared into nothing for the longest time before clearing his throat. "Well then. Interesting, but irrelevant to the here and now I'm afraid."
Interesting, but irrelevant to the here and now I'm afraid."
"Well,..." Creel stares directly at Rendel. The tinyest bit of a smile lurking in the corner of his mouth. "could be useful to remember that not all necromancers are evil, and that the strangest people can find a home in a community."
Creel smiles.
"But you are correct Sir Knight!" "Now is not the time for stories but for action."
"I for one am going to take a walk. The sun appears to be peeking out and I fear that there may not be too many peaceful mornings in the days ahead." "I intend to make good use of this one."
It is here Torthen can only say a few words after hearing such a morbid tale. It compares to a lot of things he's heard in the past, and he has heard quite the number.
He steps up to where the two have been talking, since he himself had mosied to the fire while they spoke. The talk of the undead bothered him visibly.
"Per'aps ye should consider reburyin' 'em t'be safe. Th' dead put t' proper rest don' rise up again, s'far as Ah'm concerned."
"Also, we should prob'bly head out and scout out our surroundin's. I say we see what th' town 'as in store for us. Any objections?"
Madeline's demeanour shows nothing of her inner thoughts. She simply sips at her tea through out Mr Creel's discourse. Finishing her cup with the closing of the tale.
Smith halts his work at the sink and strides over to Madelin'es shoulder.
"Mistress...Distress...?" He asks, again with his voice sounding in strange almost metallic edge to the some what musical timbre. Madeline coughs,
"So...*ahem* So, let us prepare for our sojourn into town." She smiles, rises somewhat quickly, and heads back to her room with Mr Smith following closely upon her heals.
Rendel nodded at the Dwarf's words.
"Or fire. Or simply consecrating the ground. Either way I simply hope Sir Creel has grown beyond the point of requiring dark magics." Rendel said with the slightest drop of venom.
"In any case I too will head into town, but only after Lady Kendra returns and we get to see what package the professor left for us to worry over for a month." Rendel smiled slightly trying to interject the tiniest bit of humor to break the tension. "I mean of course the box. Not his daughter."
Rendel left the table with his breakfast half finished and went in search of a wash basin to get himself cleaned of yesterdays dirt, blood, and grime.
"Well Torthen, looks like we'll see some of this morning after all."
Creel moves to the sink to rinse the now empty teapot and make sure the strange heater is off.
"Back is a bit. Just need to grab my sword."
Creel heads up to the room he shares with Tharnik. Glances about to make sure everything is ok. Belts on the sword and club. Thinks about the armor, thinks about the lovely fresh morning and decides he won't need it today. He heads down the stairs and grabs his cloak from the entryway.
Passing through the common room and kitchen he tells any of the others still there. "I'll be just outside. Shout if you need me."
Creel heads outside, using the back/kitchen door if there is one. Once outside in the cool morning sun, he will remove his cloak and setting his sword and club on it will begin to stretch before moving on to a series of exercises.
Left undisturbed the exercises, the sword drill, and the meditation that follows will take an hour and a half.
Finishing his wash he threw on his clothes leaving the weight of his armor behind for now before going a thorough security check of the house.
Creel waves to Rendel as he checks the kitchen door.
He is sitting in the sunshine, stripped to the waist following the sword drill. His sword is sunk into the turf next to him. It serves as an impromptu hanger for his shirt.
He smiles cheerfully and upends a bucket of cold water over his head.
Sweat rinsed off. He stands and starts drying off with a rough towel. He then shrugs on his tunic, pulls his sword from the earth, and rinsing it with the last of the water from the bucket, sets to work with oil and whetstone.
As the door closes Creel can be heard whistling and old tune concerning a fair maiden and shellfish.
Rendel's ears pricked at the odd noise. Casually picking up his armor he stepped outside once again to see where the sounds were coming from.
perception check
"Mistress...?"
Creel bursts into the kitchen. Tunic half on, cloak draped over the bare shoulder. He runs for the stairs, moving with much more grace that you have seen in him so far.
If there is any one in the kitchen, common room or lower hall:
"There is an alarm bell ringing in the village. That's bad trouble. Come up and help me get into the tin suit. If it's what I think it is we may need to make an impression."
When he reaches the bottom of the stair, if he has not already spoken to Rendel, Torthen and Madeline/Smith, he shouts "ALARM BELL IN THE VILLAGE! GEAR UP AND MOVE!"
If I can get help run upstairs and suit up. then help anyone else into armor and head out grabbing halberd and shield on the way.
If not, run upstairs hastily don armor. Open any closed bedroom/bathroom doors to roust folks if needed. Then head out grabbing the pole arm and shield as I leave.
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Creel's militia training correctly identifies the bell as an alarm of sorts, but the frantic nature of the tolling, with its quick and rapid pace, would make it hard to identify it as anything less. The shouting coming from - what feels like all around you - creates a sense of urgency normally reserved for emergencies and other natural disasters.
Not being familiar with the village (or its layout), you look to the sun, raising in the east, and quickly determine that you are likely on the western end of town. Long shadows are still visible from the taller trees and definitely from Miss Lorrimor's home.
As Creel hits the stairs he calls to the rest of the Houseguests. "South end of the village, sounds like an attack or major fire. Could be injuries."