Doc smiles wryly. "I'll do me best, lad. I'll do me best."
Grum finally unraveling himself from his lofty perch and comes down to see if he can help. But, the doctor seems to have everything well in hand, at least to Grum's inexperienced eye. "Is anyone else injured? I wasn't down here to help, and people got hurt. I apologize." The ranger bows his head for a moment, seeming truly chastised for his carelessness. "I thought the wolf was either scared off or had decided we weren't worth his time. If only there had been some way to guess the animals intentions, we could have ended things the first time he came around." He looks grimly over at the three dead wolves, his lips turned down in a sad frown at the violence and death caused today.
While Xavier is being tended, he moves to the wolves to see what he can find.
Yea, I thought the same. Does anyone see more company?
Nilofar suddenly blurts out, "I thought it looked-- I mean, rather, M'Rtyu said we should feed it, Why didn't we try feeding it?! They looked so thin and hungry, those poor things.""
She snaps quiet after that and says quietly, "M'Rtyu's guarding the front ..he can see into the night, we should be okay."
She'll shake her head a bit and start taking some deep, long breaths while watching the Doc handle Xavier's well being.
Quietly after a bit, she inquires, "Do we need a healer ..back in town?" Her voice has a tinge of fear to it, clearly due to her inability to help more.
M'Rtyu continues his role as guard panther, while stealthed.
"I do not understand nature lovers," Grob admits aloud.
Doc laughs as he continues to work on Xavier. "Some folk jus' love everythin', lad. No use questionin' it!" the dwarven doctor laughs as he finishes wrapping the Cleric's wounds. "A'right, that should do 'im fir now, but he'll pro'ly be mighty cross wi' me in th' morn."
Grum gently removes his arrows from the torn wolf body, "How about nature respecters? Personally I find it much easier to love a tree than a shaped lump of steel in my hand. Fighters, psshh" he says the last with a wink tossed Nilofars way, trying to calm the clearly distraught girl.
While Xavier is being tended, he moves to the wolves to see what he can find. [dice=Survival (male, female, well-fed, starving, crazed, far from home? any of that.)]1d20+8
Yea, I thought the same. Does anyone see more company?
[dice=Percpt]d20+7
"At first I, rather, we, thought it was another illusion- another test, maybe from the town's Druid... That's why M'Rtyu suggested we test with the food, why else would an animal get near the fire?" At first it's a bit of a ramble, perhaps from the adrenaline wearing off, but eventually you can see Nilofar calming.
"M'Rtyu..." the rest is never verbalized, if anything, and with a simple glance back at Nilofar, M'Rtyu's sleek midnight coat fades, until the last parts of him, glowing run and eyes, instantly vanish, all in one heartbeat. Just as he does, so does the rune, glowing previously, vanish as well from her own brow.
Nilofar takes a breath and seems to have completely calmed herself, perhaps gaining some odd strength from sending M'Rtyu away.
"Does Xavier's equipment need any fixing, or do we suspect that attack was the end of our watches tonight?"
She will stand by waiting on the group's decision for the remainder of the evening.
Grum gently removes his arrows from the torn wolf body, "How about nature respecters? Personally I find it much easier to love a tree than a shaped lump of steel in my hand. Fighters, psshh" he says the last with a wink tossed Nilofars way, trying to calm the clearly distraught girl.
Realizing the group could use some levity, Grob stage mutters to his sword as he cleans it, "It's okay, Betsy, he didn't mean it. Everyone loves you."
Grum rolls his eyes at Grob, and answers Nilofar, "I think we can wait till tomorrow, and just finish up our watches for the night."
Unless anyone objects he returns to his perch, and at the appointed time watches from above as best he can.
Nilofar looks over as Grobradon does his humor with Betsy, then watches as Grumadon climbs back up to his perch in the tree.
"I have water if Xavier needs some," she offers to Doc, then brushes his shoulder lightly with her finger tips. "Thank you for tending to him-- I know I most likely have failed in my effort."
She will then find her 'spot' for sleeping, and make for resting, assuming that her watch was done for the night.
After the encounter with the wolves, the rest of the night passes uneventfully. The next day, you are able to continue your journey through the Fangwood. You estimate that early in the day the trail will lead you to the shores of the Gray Lake, where you can refill your waterskins and is likely to be a good spot to stop for a quick rest.
Sure enough, a few hours later, the trees begin to thin, revealing a field of short, green grass that leads to the shores of a wide, calm lake reflecting the overcast sky above. A dense fog hangs over the center of the lake, obscuring the far side. Near the shore of the lake, a dark form lies next to the water.
Doc walks with the others, a carefree grin on his face. Tap-tap-tak, he travels with a comfortable gait. However, when they begin to near the lake, he notices the dark form laying next to the water, and hefts his cane, switching the grip on it. "Well, lads, that looks like it could be somethin' we need to investigate," he says, pointing towards it with the reinforced walking stick. "Can't be too careful, y'know!"
Xavier wakes in the morning feeling the effects from the wolf bites and the heat of the burns he sustained. As he slowly sits up his face is wrenched into a grimace of pain and let’s out a groan. Xavier will give Doc a smile as he labors to get into a kneeling position and then bows his head. The wispers that emminate from Xavier are not audible but it is obvious that he is performing his morning ritual that allows him to be filled with the power he uses.
Xavier than stands and prays aloud.
Iomedae bless me with your healing touch and grant me the power to take away that which evil has caused.
Xavier’s hand glows and he places his hand upon the wounds caused by the wolf and his entire body than starts to glow with the healing touch.
Was there anyone else that suffured wounds that need a little healing if so come close and I will channel healing
Xavier waits to be answered and have those needing healing to gather around him.
By the power of Iomedae may the Sun’s power envelope all those that surrond me with the warmth of healing.
Xavier’s holy symbol glows and there is an eruption of light that surronds him and the shock and warmth that follows will heal those in need.
Xavier will go over to one of the wolves prior to leaving camp and kneel besides the animal. He then takes out a knife and cuts a bit of fur from it and puts it in a pouch.
Well let’s be off then shall we.
Xavier says with an infectious smile and at that will pick up his shield and walk towards their desitination.
As they approach the figure Xavier agrees with Doc that caution is the better part of valor.
Yes let us be careful, wouldn’t want to flame up a situation.
Smiling he gives Doc a look and a nod to show the jest in his response.
The next morning Grum comes down, stretching and getting the kinks out. "Tree's, not too bad as beds go!" and then displays the rope he spent several hours knotting the night before. "See this? Makes climbing much easier, especially if we're next to a wall or something to plant your feet against." He seems fairly pleased with himself and stows the knotted rope next to the regular one he brought himself.
He watches Xavier carefully, seeing if the man has truly recovered, and feels heartened to see him going about his prayers. That feeling is replaced by amazement as Xavier starts using healing on himself and the others, his mouth hanging wide open. "I'd heard of healing from above, but hadn't seen it before... That was amazing! You can just *poof*, pray and get healed any time you want?"
If anything, Grum is even more cautious the next day while traveling, not that he fears more wolves, but they did serve as a harsh reminder to remain vigilant. Once at the lake the ranger cranes his neck to see the shape Doc is pointing out, "Best approach with care, who knows what we'll find? Could be someone needing help though." Grum starts off through the grass, bow drawn and watching for danger. He grins as he hears Xavier making light of Docs flaming blunder yesterday, glad the man has a sense of humor.
Savren coughs into a free hand, before smiling guiltily. "I said I was sorry, lad. Didn't mean nothin' by it," he says, showing one of the vials tucked in his belt to Xavier. "These babies are jus' a wee bit unstable in use. I'll try an' be more careful in th' future!" the dwarven doctor laughs, returning the vial to his belt.
Answering Grum sincerely
Iomedae grants me power every day but it is not infinite. The power I am granted is more like arrows in a quiver. Once I have used that energy or power it is gone. But my god blesses me daily with new power.
Smiling at Grum he hopes his rambling made sense.
Grum shakes his head, "That is pretty incredible, but how do you know Iomedae will 'bless you daily'? Seems a bit of an unstable agreement if you ask me."
Grobradon chuckles a bit at his brother being in his element out here. When the subject turns to clerical power, he lets Grum do the questioning, but pays attention to the answers.
"What do we got?"
At the morning before heading off, Nilofar stretches and takes a moment to evaluate where she'd woken up, as if coming out of some deep dream or what not. She doesn't look tired, but fitful- perhaps a nightmare occurred.
Once she sees Xavier up and about, she smiles and greets him politely saying, "Good to see you up and about, Xavier." She studies him as he does his healing magics, but doesn't seem to react to the words he speaks in any overt fashion. Seeing him apparently fully healed she is much happier, and when the wash of positive energy flows over her, she looks curiously at the action in thought.
Just prior to the camp breaking up, and moving on, she walks off maybe ten feet from the rest of the camp, kneels down on one knee, and appears to start what can best be called a ritual.
She first starts by leaning forward, while kneeling, reaching out with both arms, then bringing them around in a circular motion, whereupon the ground seems to start illuminating in that same dark red glow, akin to the now forming rune on her forehead, just a scant distance off both surfaces.
There appears to be two perfect circles forming, one just 3 inches inside the outer, and in between the outer and inner, runic glyphs and shapes manifest, still glowing lightly, yet as visible as her own. She does not speak, but it's clear she's concentrating on this action, and within a minute, the 'surface' of the inner circle flashes with that same dark red illumination, seems to twitch and tweak, then suddenly violently shatter like a plane of glass, or smooth ice surface, erupting with more dark red light at the seams before shooting upward, exploding into dust, as the figure of M'Rtyu begins to 'fill' in below the dust. Perhaps the dust falls into where he was, or perhaps he simply materializes into being, but all the while, before finally manifesting fully, the twin circles spin and turn, just off the surface, until he is fully formed.
Nilofar gives a violent snap back at the end of it all, having been focusing and moving while doing this ritual, letting out a long breath afterward, then stands up.
She would then, without saying anything, as if this were as common as drawing breath or stretching in the morning, have packed up her things and gone with the group. M'Rtyu pads along in his quiet fashion at her side, equally nonchalant in his manner.
Apparently wary, given her body language, Nilofar peers over at the dark shape near the lake shore, then looks at Grumadon, who she considers the scout of this team, "Do you think it's some lake creature? or perhaps a large predator drinking?" She is preparing her own waterskin, looking over back and forth between dark shape and Grum.
A little suspicious of the cleric's prayers in the morning Romund keeps his distance but is happy to see him better. He grumbling approuches at the promisse of healing.
Glad you ok. He mumbles before going back to pack his gear.
At the lake he follows the others walking slowly while trying to figure it out what the black shape is.
Dont like it.
Grum shakes his head, "That is pretty incredible, but how do you know Iomedae will 'bless you daily'? Seems a bit of an unstable agreement if you ask me."
How do you know your bow won't break the next time you draw it. Faith is not about knowing but trusting. I believe in my god and that belief is faith and with faith I live and by faith I live. My god has never failed to provide what I needed and when I die I know where I will go.
Stability is my faith.
Grum thinks about this, looking off into the trees, weighing things in his mind. He hefts his bow in his hands, fingers running along the string, and finally he answers, "But I can see my bow, feel the grains in the wood and the tautness of the line. If there is a crack, or is cold, it could break. If I do not remove the string and keep it oiled, the string will snap. All these I can observe and test and gauge, not so with faith, I think."
But that is what makes faith FAITH. It is believing without seeing. And yet you see me use my faith to heal and make magic. You see me use my faith to help others, I can even use my faith to destroy the undead without touching them. These are things you can see that are derived from my faith.
I can't see the air that I breathe, and I don't know why I need to breathe it to survive. But I have faith that if I stopped breathing it I would die.
But faith is a personal thing. I can not force you to believe because it isn't real faith. I can't scare you to believe because it is not true faith. Only you can believe. And only if your heart and mind are opened and you are filled with faith.
Xavier will smile and walk with Grum to answer any more questions he might have on faith.
Grums eyes haze over a little bit at the ethereal explanation, but he presses on, determined to understand, "But I cannot just... call upon Iomedae and send healing from my hands. You could pick up my bow and shoot it at a tree, maybe not as skilled as I would, but you could still wield it. Yes?" Grum starts pointing from side to side, as if tracing his running thoughts through the air, "So it is just more difficult to wield faith then?" he asks with a uncertain tone of voice.
As you approach the form, you see it is a decayed body. It was clearly attacked by a large creature as it still bears large bite marks all over the upper torso. What is surprising, given the state of decay, is that it has not been eaten by the various scavengers that would usually prey on such a find.
Near the body you find a beautiful short sword that is clearly masterwork. There is also a coin pouch containing 87 gp. The coins look newly minted from the capital city of Tamran; they bear the likeness of Forest Marshal Gavirk, nominal leader of Nirmathas.
Xavier moves closer motioning to everyone else to stay back.
I believe what ever took this man’s life may still be around. Scavangers should have taken care of the body. Either it is still around or the body is undead. Everyone prepare to attack if something appears as I approach the body to inspect it.
Xavier approaches the body to examine it and try to determine what happened with sword in hand and ready.
Savren pulls a vial from his belt with his left hand, readying himself.
Grob guards Xavier as he does his work, "Even from here, that looks like a lovely bit of steel."
>> Perhaps M'Rtyu is right, about life and violence, so far-- he's been rather validated. Poor man, hope he died fast. <<
"Do predators leave their kills laying about to revisit another time?" She pulls her sickle out, moving a bit further away from the corpse in case something horrible occurs, like the beast popping out of it, or rising up as Xavier suggested with the undead comment.
Grum looks around dubiously, It's been out in the elements for a little while, let me see what the ground can tell us." and begins searching around the area.
Romund keeps an eye on the lake wearily. He draws his sling.
First of all, you would deduce that he is not from Kassen. In addition to the coins and despite his clothing being in poor condition from exposure, it looks as though it was made in a larger city.
You would also deduce he has been dead for a few months, and the most likely reason for him not being eaten is that he has been poisoned. The most likely deduction is that whatever attacked him poisoned him. As it didn't eat him, it most likely was either defending itself or its territory (or young).
Finally, you pick up a faint trail that leads east along the lakeshore - but it hasn't been walked for a few months. Only the lack of traffic around here has kept it fresh enough to follow.
Nilofar waits to see what the scouts and warriors determine to do with the findings, apparently keeping rather calm and cautious, peering about.
M'Rtyu on the other hand, appears either agitated, or eager to do something, his tail flicking about, while keeping an eye out as well.
Looking at the body Xavier can tell many things.
Well he's been dead for several months looks to be poison. Obviously whatever did this wasn't hungry. We should be wary as we go in case it is still around, but we should continue on at this time.
Xavier will stand up and walk eastward along the lakeshore.
"The holy man is right..." Grobradon follows Xavier
The you g half-orc moves to the body and search it.
Know him? he asks to nobody in particular. Doesn t look familiar.
The you g half-orc moves to the body and search it. [dice=Percept]d20+7
Know him? he asks to nobody in particular. Doesn t look familiar.
There does not appear to be any more information you can glean from the body.
Doc looks around warily, still clutching his walking stick like a weapon. "I don' like this at all, lads. No' a bit."
Grum, loads his bow and will take point as they follow the faint eastward trail, "Keep your eyes open and weapons ready." He continues to scan the area as they move, senses alert for danger.
Nilofar will continue along, keeping her sickle out. M'Rtyu appears to be shadowing her, keeping her ahead of him in his sights, ready to pounce.
You travel for half a mile quickly as the trail is easy to follow. At the end you reach a disused campsite that clearly hasn't been used for some while. There are multiple trails from here, heading in a variety of directions.
Worried about the passage of time, but determined to to see it through, plus his curiosity has been piqued with the long-dead body. Keeping his eyes to the ground, he starts searching anew, and says over his shoulder to the others, "If anyone is ready to call off this little tangent exploration we're doing, just give me a holler."
"If we don't find whatever who ever soon, we may have to turn around," Grobradon says looking around, "But I'm good with going a bit longer."