Locke lets out a releaved sigh as Vorthad is finally restrained, the strange symbols and etching in the room immediately catch his attention and while the others handle Vorthad he begins to inspect them.
Zoreck recognises nothing of the scar on Vorthad's arm and the others, Drancis and Illona see little more than a poorly healing wound - when Vessa, wide-eyed at the devastation within the room, sees the warrior tied to the bed a tear wells in her eye, "That it comes to this... He was so brave - he held off the crazies when all seemed lost - and now he too has turned". When she sees the wound that Zoreck is examining she gasps, "He was bitten there by one of the farmers that tried to get in on the second night - but that was nearly two weeks ago!!! Surely it should have healed by now???"
...and Locke and Drancis, examining the symbols, finally recognise what the abstract etchings may represent - the night sky... stars, planets, other celestial bodies...
"How strange. Why would Vorthad, a simple warrior, all of a sudden take an interest in the night sky and the constellations thereof? As for that bite, it is clear that is how the...disease? Is it a disease?" He shakes his head in confusion, "...gets transmitted. But no clue as to the source of the disease."
"Vessa, do you have a crowbar here? There was a locked case at the Sheriff's office. There might have been clues there, click. Now we at least know that there was an infestation and how it is spread."
"Crowbar? Not hear my dear... You could try around at Yenser's? The shop over towards the Sheriff's, yes? In better times it was a smithy as well... 'Course, if you're trying to get into something in the Sheriff's office, you could always try asking old Rexel", and, in response to the quizzical look she gets, "Rexel the Apothecary? He's an old gnome lives just past the Old Mill Pond.... He and the Sheriff were as thick as thieves, if you'll pardon the term... Last I knew, he was still around"
"Have you seen Rexel since all this started happening? An apothecary might be able to give us some advice about this awful outbreak, click. Anyone for a trip to see the gnome?"
Locke is fascinated by the intricate detail in the celestial plans scribed by Vorthad. "The amount of knowledge it would take to create these is remarkable! I have heard of strange cults that have an obsession with the stars and the spaces inbetween. A cult would be a believeable enough explanation to me for all the oddities going on here."
At Rikkan's mention of visiting the apothecary Locke nods swiftly, "He certainly seems like someone useful to talk to. Though I would very much like to return to the Sheriff's office with that crowbar..." He whispers the last, realizing that despite the situation they are in, discussing breaking into the Sheriff's personal belongings in front of a local may not be the best decision.
Drancis nods, "I think that is a good idea. He may also know where the Sheriff vanished to. As for the crowbar we could certainly check out Yenser's...or what's left of it." He sighs heavily. "Still there may be one lying around that they may have missed."
Zoreck shrugs and mutters, "Makes about as much sense as anything in this madhouse...
"I wish I could recognize these patterns in the etchings..." Astraea laments as she observes the wall. "This seems right up my alley, but I can't really make heads or tails of it."
At the recommendation of checking into the Apothecary, Astraea agrees. "Right. Well, we needed to check out the shop anyway- maybe we could check that out before heading out to look for, uh, Rexel...?"
She thinks for a moment. "We're close to Yenser's, right? Anybody know where Old Mill Pond is? If Yenser's is on the way, we could knock out two birds with one stone, y'know, as the saying goes..."
Still lost in the etchings, Locke's eyes look distant for a moment, before refocusing, "By the way, does anyone else find it odd that Vorthad would know so much about constellations you wouldn't see above Varisia? I am certain none of these match."
"An infection of some sort...?" mutters Illonna as she attempts to both restrain and treat the unconscious man. She doesn't focus too much on whatever the symbols may mean. Instead she latches on to the apothecary. "Perhaps, if we are fortunate, they may be some notes or observations made during the initial outbreak."
"So Yenser's first, to get a crowbar for the Sheriff's cabinet, then to the apothecary? Sounds good.". He thinks for a second. "Can anyone sketch well? Maybe our own copy of his scribbling could be helpful to someone."
Constellations... but not the ones above Varisia? Astraea snaps her fingers at Locke's words. "Well, no wonder I couldn't make heads or tails of them! Thanks, Locke."
At Rikkan's suggestion, Astraea eagerly raises her hand. "I'll take care of that. Let me just find something to do it with..." She makes no show of hiding her enthusiasm. It involves the stars. This is kind of her thing.
Still, the knowledge that Vorthad's madness might be some kind of virus, transmitted by being bitten, troubles her. "We need to be careful if we run into any more of those crazy people. Don't let them bite us or scratch us with their nails- I mean, if it really is a biological issue and not a magical one." And stay out of striking range, she reminds herself. Let the fighters fight. You just do your best to support them.
Vessa tells the group a little about Rexel, and as she does, it all comes back to Locke – the slightly eccentric fellow has been an inhabitant of Holver’s Ferry for as long as anyone can remember although his house is some way out of the village… beyond the old mill pond and half-nestled into the woods to the south. For folks with illnesses, afflictions, interest in the esoteric, a desire to collect oddities, Rexel is the person to go to, ”I haven’t seen him for a week or so though. He came asking whether I had seen the sheriff a week or so ago but nothing since...”
Leaving Vessa, with Vorthad secured and safe – at least for the next few hours, the friends make their way past the Abadarian temple. It seems to dominate the central clearing of the village… and now, knowing what atrocities have been committed by the priests within, it exudes a dark presence. Moving quickly, and silently, the friends soon arrive at “Yenser’s”.
A well-kept building with a simple sign over the door reading simply, “Yenser’s”, it is immediately apparent that it has suffered damage during the events that have overtaken Holver’s Ferry. A large display window that dominates the front of the building now lies smashed in with shards of broken glass strewn everywhere. Inside, from what can be seen, the store is a shambles…
…and the sound of giggling voices, from somewhere in the building, can be heard…
”Goblin raid not go quite right,
Longshanks all dead in Longshanks fight,
Not be sad, Not be down,
Turn Longshanks Village to Goblin Town”
Rikkan nods at the rest of the group. Once they drew their weapons, the little ratfolk was ready to lead them into the building and drive out the goblins.
Goblins? Here??
Drancis pales as he recognizes the vile creatures. He grips his spear tightly as the group heads into the building.
I am curious to know what bubbles look like around goblins. Are they any different than those around humans?
Zoreck draws his sword. He mutters, "And now there's goblins. As if this town wan't crazy enough..."
Illonna also draws her longsword and takes second file.
Rikkan quickly throws down his last extract of the day and some of the wounds heal from his run in with the crazed human. Once that was done, he marched forth, looking for gob,ins.
CLW
Locke draws his blade and grasps his standard tightly. "It may be nice to deal with something a little less crazy," he whispers. If goblins can ever be considered less crazy than anything.
"Goblins?! Oh, great..." Astraea groans quietly. "But that was unusually good for a Goblin rhyme. What should we do, guys? I don't guess we could smoke them out, could we? Or, uh, does anybody have anything they could throw in there that would..." She makes a tiny "pew" sound and imitates an explosion with her hands. It is not a terribly impressive display.
"Hey... You smell that?"
"Smell what... Not smelling nothing!!!"
"I be smelling Longshankses!!!"
"What? You sure? Hey, you right!!! GET THEM!!!"
...and with that, the looted shop erupts in a mess of shouting, clanging of weapons... and giggling, the ever persistent giggling...
Round 1
"There's a swarm of them inside. We need to be careful."
Illonna steps forward and stabs at the first goblin she can reach.
Illona, having the advantage, steps into the shop and, with an efficient slicing motion, slays the first of the goblins...
...to the great hilarity of the other green-skinned horrors - not wishing to miss out on all the fun, two more rush in at Illona - swords flailing wildly... and pointlessly...
...the one that charges Zoreck only misses by a small margin...
...whilst two others, deciding that arrows are way more fun, try to 'stick the big Longshanks target'
A sixth goblin, busily eating some kind of a rat, perches on a crate laughing at the pathetic attempts of his tribe...
Rikkan steps into the room and throws one of his trusty fire bombs at goblin 7.
RTA w/PBS
Damage fire damage
If miss, random direction.
[ooc]First bomb of the day. Three left.
Drancis smiles grimly, Now it is time to see how useful your abilities are here! He thinks to himself.
Sending his mind out to gather a large piece of glass in its bubble, he grips it tightly and whips it out at the goblin archer who just nailed Zoreck. No sooner had the projectile left his mind he ducks down out of sight, he hopes anyway.
Round 2
Illonna remains stalwart as she weathers the two blows from the goblins. She retaliates with a slash of her own and then quickly shuffles back, using the wall to protect her flank while helping simultaneously helping cover Rikkan.
Locke shouts at the goblins, "Laugh now, because you will soon meet your end!" with an exaggerated but calculated flourish he gets his hands dirty, slashing at the first goblin he sees on entering the building.
Astraea knows that she's not able to contribute much as a fighter, but as the battle seems to be going well thus far, she decides not to blow a spell and try something a little different.
The sudden surge of goblins is repelled decisively by the friends – in little time, four of the maniacal creatures are either dead or bleeding out on the floor… the last two, seriously considering running, try to defend themselves against Illona and Zoreck…
…and, above the noise of pitched battle, something upstairs bangs repeatedly on the floor…
Round 3
"Something is upstairs." comments Illonna as she cuts down another goblin.
Locke turns and lunges at the nearest remaining goblin, swinging his blade in a high arc.
Within ten seconds or so, the friends demonstrate just why it is that, despite their numerous tribes across Varisia, goblins have never been considered a serious threat to civilisation...
The shop now lies in shambles, with shattered display cases, overturned tables, and broken shelves littering the bloodstained floor... It certainly doesn't seem likely, given the looting that has occurred here, that you will find the tools you need. A ladder towards the rear of the shop leads to a closed hatch in the ceiling... and, possibly, to the source of the banging...
"Well, somethings up there. And it knows we are down here. Suppose would could, click, as it all nice to come down here and parley? Or do we have to go up and, whrrr, deal with it there?"
Drancis shakes his head. "I don't know Rikkan, I think whoever is up there needs our help." He looks up at the closed hatch. "It sounds like whoever it is up there is also trapped!"
"We are obligated to check, at the very least. I will go first, stay behind me."
Illonna will attempt to open the hatch.
Astraea steps gingerly over the broken glass to pick up her spear. Well, that wasn't a great idea, she thinks as she lifts it. She then takes up position near Illonna, ready to help if the situation requires diplomacy- or healing...
Please let whoever's up there be pleasant and reasonable. Please let whoever's up there be pleasant and reasonable. Please let whoever's up there...
As the friends make their way to the ladder, someone notices the brownish stain in the ceiling… starkly contrasting with the white-wash elsewhere, the dark circle is echoed by another stain on the floor – as if something has dripped from above. Without needing to climb on to the ladder, Illona uses her sword to push the hatch ajar… the attic, from what the friends can tell, is pitch dark… a horrific stench wafts from the opening.
Zoreck shakes his head at the dead goblins, and then winces at the stench of death from the attic.
"More mayhem, and more death..."
He lights a torch and hands it to Illonna. "Whatcha see up there?"
The torch illuminates, with a flickering light, a long – and mainly empty – attic. Near a straw bed, in the far corner of the attic, a figure is suspended upside down – a simple iron chain looped over a rafter holding it in place…
Drancis fights back a feeling of intense nausea as he looks at the hanging figure. "What...happened here?"
"Something born of fear, more than likely. Perhaps this is someone's attempt at containing the infection." As she speaks Illonna moves up into the attic and towards the figure.
...and, no sooner has Illonna clambered into the attic, then there is a flurry of movement from behind her... becoming visible as it charges quickly towards her, a haggard looking goblinoid - the cruel looking dagger in its hand slicing into the paladin's flank...
...Illonna crumples to the floor as the bugbear pulls its blade free...
Rikkan climbs up into the room. If he can identify the goblin old, he pulls his second fire bomb of the day and throws it at the monster.
RTA w PBS
Damage with PBS
Miss direction
Wobbling in flight, Rikkan’s tossed bomb bounces from a rafter before exploding harmlessly away from the stricken Illonna…
The goblinoid, runs at Rikkan and attempts to stab him with her blackened blade… but, tripping and stumbling as she rushes in, misses.
Round 1
*bleeds*
Rikkan pulls his dagger and tries to slide it in the ribs of the monster.
Attack
Damage
Locke shouts as he vaults into the attic, "Astraea quickly! Care for Illonna!" Before frantically calling a spellword and gesturing towards the creature as it stumbles past Rikkan.
"On it!" Astraea cries shakily, moving to Illonna's side, attempting to stay out of the bugbear's range in the process. She stoops down and lays her hands on Illonna, imagining channeling the warmth of the stars above into her ailing body...