Argus tucks the potion into his other medical supplies.
The woman takes the jerky and sniffs at a few times. She takes a tentative bite, and then smiles at you.
"Hmph. Good!" she says as she takes a bigger bite and begins chewing.
Ingrid, you think she's telling the truth, though you suspect she hasn't spent much time with people.
Argus, everyone else appears to be dead.
Philgor finishes checking the bodies. He turns to Angus, "We should take these bodies back to Arwyll Stead. I am not sure how far away it is or if there is room in the wagon. The other option is to build a cairn with wall stone and let the authorities know where to find them."
While thinking of which would be best he asks,"Do you think we can catch any of those horses?"
"Olive may be able to carry some of the fallen, if the do not all fit on the cart," The half-elf offers. "How much farther to the stead? she asks shielding her eyes with a raised arm as she looks at the sun.
"I can them catch," Vegazi responds with confidence. "Town is hours several from here."
Philgor halts the half-orc before she can leave to retrieve the horses.
He turns to Ingrid and asks, "Priestess would your god be willing to grant the woman and I healing"
Ingrid nods in response to Philgor. "If we are sure we have gathered all the injured, I would be happy to call upon the blessing of the judge above."
Pulling a necklace with a golden key on it out as far as she could, the dwarf began to summon the power. "Abadar, your servant calls upon you to grant succor to these injured souls!" With a flash, the key exploded in a positive burst of energy.
The turtle creature opens his mouth widely and waggles an enticing tongue.* Almost belatedly a growling sound comes out, "Much thanks IngridBalt."
Initially startled by the turtle's speech, Ingrid gives it a second glance and a wry smirk. "What other tricks do you and Olive have up your sleeves, Lyra?"
She pats the creature's shell. "You're welcome."
"You are having thanks," Vegazi adds. "You are waiting here, and I am returning with horses."
The half-orc returns after about a quarter hour, four horses in tow. You're able to load the bodies on the animals and the wagon and continue making your way to the stead.
When you arrive, you are greeted by town guards, who show immediate concern over your cargo and send a runner to fetch the mayor.
As you wait, a crowd of onlookers swiftly growing around you, the sound of their muttering growing with them, along with cries.
Soon, a sweaty man with a paunch arrives.
"Welcome, strangers. I'm Mayor Darrel Proum," he begins, before he says your cargo, ruddy face instantly paling.
"Guards," he says quietly, "Please take Master Arwyll and his scouts to the Arwyll Estate.
"As for you, I would know what happened. Please meet me there, but, first, you look hurt. Have your wounds attended at the chapel of Iomedae." -- he points in the general direction -- "Tell them that I said the town will take care of any charge."
"Thank you Mayor. I will meet you at the estate when I am finished." Philgor he heads off for healing.
He turns to Vegazi and says, "If you need further healing I would be honored to escort you to the the chapel."
Argus is somewhat relieved he won't have to do any stitching today, even if he never will get used to the planturtle talking.
While Philgor (and possibly Vegazi) go to the Iomedaen chapel for healing, Argus will take his wagon to the stables, to have the mules looked after. If possible, he will engage a large-ish room at a reputable inn, and arrange to have his crates taken there.
He will give instructions to only use literate porters. Those warnings are on those boxes for a reason.
With those errands handled, he will proceed to the Arwyll estate to give his statement to the mayor and meet up with his travelling companions.
"Arwall? As in Arwall Stead?" Lyra thinks for a moment. "I guess that should have been obvious. Let me help get these people home. I know how important even bad news like this can be." The half-elf fingers her bow and remembering how she inherited it.
The mayor nods at Lyra's question.
"Yes, Wate is ... was ... the last of the Arwyll family," he said, mournfully. "But this isn't the place. Please, meet me at the estate."
Vegazi grunts at Philgor's words, apparently some form of acceptance, as she follows him to the small church.
You're met there by a young human in cleric's vestments, who introduces himself as Ovir Radan.
"Oh dear, oh dear," he exclaims, wringing his hands as you arrive. "Is it true, what they say? You brought back Master Wate? And --" he chokes for a second. " -- And Phazia? Dead?"
The mayor directs Argus to the Blissful Badger, the town's only inn, where he's trailed by a few people who seem to hope he will divulge what happened. Despite the gawkers, he's able to book a room and get his gear situated thanks to Isald Forgemore, a dwarven woman who identifies herself as the innkeeper.
"Don't you worry, boyo, my folk here'll do a good job, keep your stuff tucked in as safe as a diamond in its setting."
Ingrid took a moment to introduce herself. "Mayor Proum, I have a writ here saying you wanted some mediation of a property dispute." Ingrid fished through her belongings and rendered him the notice. "This Arwyll stead seems to be at the center of it, though the politics of the surrounding area may hem at the issue somewhat. How would you like me to approach this matter? Your constituents are likely to be somewhat affected."
*******
Entering the inn, Ingrid immediately spotted the innkeeper.
"M'thanks, Miss Forgemore. I'd appreciate a room with good outside ventilation - an alchemist's work can generate all kinds of fumes, and I'd hate to bother your other guests."
*********************
At the manor, Argus will await the mayor and the other members of their group.
"I was only told that one of them was Wate Atwyall. I don't know who the others were.", replies Philgor. He goes on to explain what happened and describes the creatures they encountered.
"Who is in charge of the chapel? The mayor sent us here for healing before we meet him at the Atwyll estate. I also have a few items that we took from one of the dead creatures that I would like have examined to see if they can tell us anything about why Wate was attacked." He pulls out the black robes, the necklas of black feathers, and the quarterstaff.
The mayor blinks at Ingrid's words.
"By Iomaedae, that's not important right now. Please, this isn't the place to talk, though. I ... We ... We need time and then I want to hear your story."
--
"Mercurial?" the innkeeper responds. "How so? We have faced our share of trouble, but generally this is a good, strong place, that holds fast against the dangers to the east and west."
To Argus, she nods.
"I can get you a room with a window, but you be careful there. If you burn down my inn, which was built by my father's own two hands, you'll be building me a new one, or my name's not Isald Forgemore."
--
"In charge? Well, it's Phazia. But ... Oh dear, I guess if the rumors are true, maybe it's me."
He looks over the items and shrugs.
"I'm not sure what I can tell you about them. They look like orc wear."
Ingrid was disappointed at the mayor's response, and her frown was obvious, though not one of anger. "Important or not, that was what I arrived here to do. I am not averse to helping with this other task, for the two seem to intersect, though there will be a premium involved."
Awaiting an even tepid acceptance from the politician, she yielded some information. "Assuming one of your townspeople did not conjure those devils, it his quite likely the work of the orcs; they are known to resort to the spirits below to achieve their ends. [b]"Vagazi was not involved to the best of my belief, and - I am sure - her word."
*******
"Well, a windowless one will do just fine for me. is there any boar for the breaking of fast in the morning, perchance?" It had been a while since she'd had hot, hearty food. Isald surely knows what a dwarf's tastes are...
Philgor gently grabs the priest by both shoulder, looks him in the eye and says, "Listen to me Ovir. We need you to stay calm so we can all get through this. We will find out what happened and stop it. In the meantime, the city is going to look to you for their spiritual guidance in their time of grief." He lets the priest go and steps back. "Now the first thing I need is for you to heal the lady and I."
"I've been at this a'while now, and I still have all my fingers and both my eyes. I'm less dangerous than your cook."
Lyra follows Philgor to the Temple. "You are close to Phasia? Let's hope the rumours are not true, but you have my sympathies. Philgor is correct though, will you lead us in prayer to Iomaedae for strength and guidance?"
The mayor's eyes grow wide as Ingrid begins to discuss what happened.
"Please, this is not the place. We must discuss this, but your friends are hurt. Meet me at the Arwyll Estate and we shall discuss it!"
He gives the dwarven woman another glance, before turning on his heel and moving quickly toward the building he pointed out as the estate.
"Oh, yes, of course, of course. I should have thought of it. I'm used to Phazia taking care of such things, but Iomedae should grant me the strength."
He prays for a moment and a wave of healing energy washes over Philgor, Lyra and Vegazi.
The dwarven woman settles Ingrid and Argus, assuring the dwarf that there shall be a good hardy breakfast in the morning.
Eventually, you all make your way to the Arwyll Estate, where Mayor Proum answers the door and ushers you past the foyer and into the humbly decorated parlor room.
You can see the adjacent dining room has been outfitted as an impromptu morgue, with the bodies of Wate and his comrades laid across the sagging wooden table and covered in white linens.
Along with Proum are two other humans, an elderly woman with wrinkled skin and a head full of curly gray hair, and a tall man in his late forties. Proum introduces the woman as Shovann Orda and the man as Gallus Crevac.
He explains the two were friends of the late Wate Arwyll, and together, the four of them served as an informal governing council for Arwyll Stead.
Shovann, dressed in vibrantly colored clothes that seem a number of years out of style, gazes steadily at you, her eye falling especially hard on Garett. A large owl perches on her shoulder, and looks as ancient as his master.
Gallus wears well-groomed red robes and keeps his graying mustache and beard immaculately neat.
Once introductions have been made, Proum asks you to explain exactly what happened that led to Wate’s demise.
Given the terse nature of the mayor earlier, Ingrid sought fit to let him try to pull a story out of her. Or one of these others can tell it. She kept her daze on the new couple.
Their ruling set is short one...
Philgor smiles as he feels the power of Iomedae course though his body. The hangnail that has been bothering him since breakfast no longer hurts but he can still feel the spear wound in his shoulder. "The power of Iomedae feels wonderful but I need more to heal the rest of my wounds. The mayor said the town would cover the costs involved."
"Oh, yes, indeed. I'm sorry, I hadn't realized you were so hurt. Iomedae, heal they servants again," he prays, and most of Philgor's remaining wounds kill, though he still carries a few scrapes and abrasions.
"We were about an hour or outside of town when we came across two devils fighting with a woman. The site of their battle included the bodies of your fallen friends." Lyra pauses for a moment reflecting on the deed before answering the couple's questions. "After we helped her dispatch the fiends, she explained she had come upon the devils & the bodies. We gathered their horses & bodies, then brought them back here." The half elf includes as much detail as she can, allowing others to fill out the story as well.
"Thanks you Ovir. You might want to go come with us to the estate since you are now the ranking member of the chapel." He turns to Vegazi "Do you wish to accompany us to the estate? Your account of what happened might help."
"Lyra's account is essentially correct. If we hadn't arrived when we did, and intervened, the orcish woman probably would have been killed as well. Are these kinds of attacks common near town?"
Ovir declines Philgor's invitation.
"Thank you, but I am sure they'd have sent someone if they wanted me to come. I have my own work I must do, which I think is even more important than ever."
Vegazi, however, agrees.
The three listen attentively to your telling, Gallus taking notes.
"Orc attacks have always been common, but not so devils," the mayor responds. "When our scouts sighted them in the hills, we became concerned that the orcs had acquired new allies. Wate ordered the town’s soldiers to scout the region and assess the situation while he and several others traveled to Vigil to rally support from the Knights of Ozem. Clearly they didn't make it, though."
He shakes his head.
"I have trouble believing this was just a routine skirmish, though. You said there were several devils? Even with what we've seen lately, that's just too many."
"We killed two of 'em. I suppose there could have been more, that ran off before we arrived." He thinks for a moment. "Or the soldiers might have killed a few. We didn't find any devilish bodies, but I don't think that means anything. Don't devils and the like go back to whence they came when killed? Something like that."
Philgor speaks up, "There was another creature among the dead. A cross between a teifling and an orc. She wore robes and carried a staff with tribal fetishes on it. My guess is she was the creature that summoned these devils. Whether she was killed by Lord Atwyll or by the devils could not be determined." He turns to Vegazi and asks, "Do you have any information you can add about the devils or the other one?"
'He's seen an increase of devils lately?' Lyra boggles. She silently listens as the others continue their questions, but eventually adds he own. "Have you heard nothing from the scouts sent? I suppose I can go looking for them if you need."
Vegazi looks nervous as everyone's attention turns to her.
"They are having right. I saw fight and tried to help, but devils were too much," she says.
As she speaks, Shovann suddenly interrupts.
"That ring, girl," she says, "where you did you get that."
You notice she's wearing a signet ring, which bears the initials “A.A.” and motifs of the Arwyll family crest
The girl's eyes widen at the sudden question.
"A human gave it me, after I free him from orc slave yard."
At Shovann's prompting, she describes the man, causing the three Steaders to exchange concerned glances.
Before they can question her any further, though, a knock on the door interrupts them. The mayor returns with a letter, which he says was found on Wate's body. He reads it aloud:
Wate, The attacks on the borderlands around Arwyll Stead have obviously become more frequent and purposeful. I fear what the orcs of the Hell's Fury tribe are plotting -- it can't be good, judging by their diabolical company.
My scouts and I have still not been able to locate the squad that went missing last week. As we discussed, I will continue searching along the banks of the Path River for any sign of our missing comrades before rendezvousing with you in town tomorrow morning.
-- Terrin
P.S. We are not alone in our search. I spotted an elusive hunter tailing my party for the past few days, though she is clearly benign, since she has had ample opportunity to kill us in our sleep. She hasn't made her presence known in a little while, and I would not be surprised if you spotted her as well.
At their questioning, Vegazi confirms she was the person mentioned in the missive, but repeated questions can't elicit a reason why she was following them.
Afterward, the mayor responds to Lyra's question: "As you have heard, our scouts seem to have disappeared. Your offer is kind, but our investigation has just begun. We would appreciate if you would stay tonight in case we have more questions. I have arranged rooms for you at the Blissful Badger."
You believe they're being sincere. They're clearly concerned about what happened and want to make sure your story is true.
"I would be happy to help locate missing persons. Who is this Terrin & how does he relate to the late Wate Arwyll?" Lyra asks. She tries and puts Arwyll Stead, Plath River and the Hell's Fury tribe onto the mental map she has of the area.
After the half-orc leaves, she will try and ask "Which Arwyll is A.A.?" She doesn't push it, since Vegazi didn't offer much and neither did the steaders, but an unasked question remains unanswered.
Philgor heads out for the Blissful Badger. He asks Vegazi, "Will you be staying with us at the inn. I am sure that they have arranged meals for us and I am willing to pay for some ale to wash it down. I am not from this area and have questions about that you might be able to answer for me."
"Yes, I stay for little time," she agrees, looking uncomfortable as she gazes around the town en route to the inn.
Hanging back, Lyra asks about the ring.
"It could be Adil Arwyll, who was Wate's father. He died some time ago, though.
"Terrin is Terrin Shaw, our scoutmaster. He's out of town, been gone for several days, traveling to Trunau to gather news and supplies and scouting along the Path River to determine the cause of several orc attacks on remote homesteads, but as far as we know he's not among the missing."
The judge carefully watched the interplay of the individuals other than her recent companions in the room. For them, she merely glanced at their reactions when the letter was mentioned and afterwards.
The halfbreed's story adds-up. These councilmembers know more than they let on though.
"The Hell's Fury Tribe - if it's name is anything akin to what it references - could well be the cause of those devils. But there is no reason for them to care particularly about such a small stead. At least, not a reason I know of."
She glanced to her party, then to the others. "Do any of you know if the location has a particularly special quality about it where summoners would care to interfere?" She took a breath. "Or perhaps it was Adil or his line that serve to have some intersection with the denizens of Hell."
"No, there's nothing like that here and no reason that we know of. With orcs, it could just be their lust for power," the mayor replies. "Nothing we know of Adil or his family has any connection to devils and we have known them for some time."
They seem sincere.
"Then this is a new threat." Ingrid sighed. "The property boundaries are something I can arbitrate, though I cannot imagine those invested would see devils appearing in the countryside as a boon for their land."
"Indeed. I hope you understand, the boundaries issue is something that will have to wait. We have more pressing matters we must deal with at the moment."
You arrive at the Blissful Badger as the sun is setting after your long discussion with the village leaders, and are greeted by Isald. She apologizes, but indicates she doesn't have enough rooms for each of you to have your own, as she has several travelers staying the night already.
Garett, who like Ingrid and Argus stopped in earler, smirks.
"Well, I'm off to get some drinks and then my own room. I'll leave you lot to figure out sleeping arrangements upstairs."
He heads off toward the tavern part of the establishment, already calling out for drinks.
Philgor steps up to Isald and says, "Let the ladies have the rooms. I can stay here in the common room for the night if you will allow it. I can throw my bedroll down by the fire. A soldier sleeps where he can, when he can. I am also an early riser so I will not bother your morning patrons."
The dwarven innkeep frowns.
"It's a kind offer of you, but I'd rather not have people sleeping in my common room. Sets a bad precedent, you understand?"
"The sensible thing would be the have the women share a room. If you must be chivalrous, Philgor, I can make space on my floor for you. Tonight, since I'll have to set up my equipment in the morning. On the condition that you don't touch anything."
"Oh, Olive is like other turtles & has a home always close at hand. I can share a room, but I can find a place outside, or even the stables if that's an option."
"Nonsense! I will not have you sleeping in the hay. None who stood to protect the community deserves that. You will stay with me tonight." Ingrid was nothing if not stubborn; little would sway her with that tone.
"Much thanks Lady Balt," says the half-elf. "I am quite comfortable outside, so I don't want to impose. Though I hope I can offer more aid or protection of the community.
Philgor comments, "If you two ladies can bunk together that would leave the two empty rooms for our new companion and myself. I feel that we should all be under one roof until we find out what is going on around here. Let's all get settled in and cleaned up. We can meet back here for dinner and discuss the days events."