Kendra nods gratefully at Tolvan, but turns her face down at Anna's mild-quiet rebuke. She keeps close to the others, not letting herself be the last in the group, or the front for that matter, as you mill around for clues of Pyotr's passing.
Night is down in earnest now, and the chill has deepened slightly, eliciting a shiver from Kendra. The silence seems heavy now, oppressive, and some of you may feel the illogical desire to whisper.
Gathering her cloak around her, Anna begins moving toward the Restlands entrance. Intersection of Eversleep and the Black Path, he said. she mutters.
Over her shoulder, she tells the group, If we get caught, everyone, we're here to let Andjela pay her respects to the Professor. Andjela, you got here late and felt so bad you talked us all into helping you with some Iomedaean ritual.
Anna, I cannot lie. I can however, improvise. Andjela responds almost apologetically.
Then how about we escort you to the Professor's resting site? We'll just take a little... detour first.
The group heads into the Restlands, Andjela being escorted into the graveyard by the others. It looks decidedly unwelcoming at night, somber and still, a fitting resting place for the dead. Shapes loom out of the darkness of all different shapes and sizes, only to be revealed as oddly shaped headstones and smaller family crypts. Half-orc footprints follow the paths for a bit, but then cuts across the grass, heading deeper among the graves.
Kimgald silently follows the others, vaguely aware of their position as gravestones begin to appear at the edge of his vision, vanishing just as suddenly as the group passes them by.
Andjela follows... crossbow loaded and ready.
There! Another of the half orcs tracks. Tolvan points deeper into the graveyard.
Kimberly awakes she is scared at first then slowly gathers her courage holding Teddy. She moves to the window as quietly as possible.
The tracks lead through the Restlands in a northerly direction, and then stop, milling about with footsteps not leading any particular direction. The trail has ended. Faintly, you hear the whine of metal rubbing against metal in the distance, but the sound seems directionless. A low fog has begun to creep up from the ground all over the graveyard, casting the uneven ground into a ghostly light.
Perception
Fog is getting thick, can't see much. Which way?
No idea. I can't see much past the edge of Tolvan's light. Kendra, what's past the Restlands from here? Any farms or homesteads?
She looks surprised by the question, but offers up the information, "Some farmland yes, but the homes themselves are a ways away. Nothing of note for many many miles."
Kimgald glances around but his vision is limited even more than usual by the encroaching fog. "Why'd we stop? Did we find our half-orc?"
Can anyone else produce light or have a torch?
Kendra, thinking she must be blocking the lock radiating from the bottle handed her earlier, raises it higher. The 20' radius of the spell's illumination remains constant, and her and Anna can peer around within that confined area, trying to see something helpful. Kendra seems crestfallen, "Did we lose the trail then? Poor Pyotr, I hope he's ok."
I think so. I was wondering if Pyotr was heading into the wilds. At least there might be some chance of picking up the trail tomorrow. Maybe some of the homesteaders noticed him moving through, and can point us in the right direction.
After a moment of thinking in the eerie silence, she adds, Or, maybe he's headed back to Belkzen, or some other place that needs him. He'll be able to move at speed all night. We'll never be able to catch up, without horses. I don't suppose you brought a team with you, Andjela?
Without waiting for her to reply, she turns to Kendra. Best if you lower that light. We're easy enough to see as it is.
Sorry, Anna... no team. But, while I'm here my hopes are that one's found... me. Andjela offers a smile before kneeling to pick up several small stones.
I have an idea. If we can light these small stones, one at a time, we can toss them 40 feet out or so... and shed some light in each of 4 directions. If we spot something interesting... we go there. It's not the stealthiest plan ever... But, what else do we have?
Fair? If so, everyone get ready to search or spot along the path of light and where it lands.
Andjela opens her palm to the Wizard, within it a small stone.
Kendra quickly lowers he arm at Anna's request, looking about nervously as if fearing someone will jump out of the mist right then. "Our plan is to toss stones to see what's revealed?" She doesn't seem to impressed by that plan, and so offers up one of her own, "We could go see Father's grave now, or the crypt if you all are determined to enter it tonight. I, for one, will not be going in with you -I couldn't do that to Father Grimburrow. But I'll gladly guard the entrance." The last part she say's hurriedly as if wanting to reassure them who's side she's on.
Anna winces at the suggestion of throwing lighted stones. Sorry, that's going to attract even more attention. And with this fog, I don't know if it'll help.
She turns back toward the paths winding through the Restlands. I say we look for that crypt.
Who would be out in this? Maybe there's something I don't know yet... As you wish, Anna.
Sorry, Andjela, but this town doesn't seem too... understanding. A bunch of folks even accused the Professor of being a necromancer, and tried to stop us from burying him here! We get caught up here, casting magic -- even if it is just lighted stones -- there's no telling what the rumors will say we're doing come morning. But I bet it won't be flattering.
I see what you're getting at, but Pyotr's been on the wrong side of a mob before. He wouldn't want that for us.
I see. This fog isn't helping. What's this about weapons then? I suppose Kendra can lead us for now. Andjela seems understanding, piecing it all together.
Kendra leads the group to the crypt, the fogs thickness increasing slightly. It's gated with a chain and lock through the chains. The entrance has torch sconces with burn brightly, illuminating the area. Clearly this structure (and probably others in the Restlands) is regularly maintained by someone, probably the church of Pharasma, given what you already know about it's supposedly hidden contents.
I'll be over here ensuring the gate is secure and hasn't been tampered with. Anna, please call me when we're ready to go in. Andjela turns, averting her eyes from the lock am takes two steps.
Muttering, I really need to get some tools for this, Anna tries to pick the lock with a crossbow bolt and a few pieces of wire, first though checking for traps.
As Anna examines the gate and lock, she realizes the lock has already been broken, and was merely set to make it look as if it was still locked. She does not detect any traps around the gate.
Anna smirks at the paladin. You don't have to be squeamish. Someone's already done the work for us. It looks clear. Let's go in.
That's me, squeamish... Now, we do our duty as good citizens, making certain the... criminals who did this have evacuated the area, and will not harm any innocents.
Andjela steps forward, entering...
Kimgald mutters to himself about cider and cheese as the group continues to walk through the Restlands. The dwarf's mood appears to be deteriorating further as the night progresses, and though his steps are firm and measured his jaw is clenched in pain. He shakes his head firmly as if to wake himself up, then wordlessly follows Andjela into the crypt.
Within, a flight of stone steps leads down into the cold earth to a large crypt lined with empty niches—no dead are interred here, though there is plenty of space for future bodies. The dust lies thick, and cobwebs and faint disturbances in the dust reflect the age, and lack of use, the inside of this crypt has experienced over the years. You all gather in the first anti-chamber with some doors leading north.
Anna stows her makeshift lockpicking gear and loads the bolt into her crossbow. Eyes looking hard into the lighted areas, she tries to make up for her mundane sight by straining her hearing for anything that might be moving in the apparently empty tomb.
Perception
I'm not the best at this sort of thing, but it looks like one one male has been here in decades. The Professor? The tracks are right here... and here...
Kimgald remains silent as he stands at the foot of the stairs, but for the first time since visiting the temple of Pharasma he lets his grimace subside; being surrounded by stone has a calming effect on the dwarf that is only amplified by the fact that he can see the entirety of the space around him.
Catching up, but not expecting to go back...
Kendra notes the footprints Andjela points out and moves a bit farther into the room, careful not to step on the footprints. She gestures to the two closed portals to the north, "Well, there's a couple doors in here... do we dare proceed farther?"
I would never suggest daring. But this is simply a matter of course.
We're here already. In for a copper, in for a gold. No sense in turning back before seeing what's been stashed away for us to find.
Anna will inspect the doors, though, before proceeding.
Tolvan casts Mage Armor on himself and readies his bow as he eyes the doors ahead. A little precaution. he explains as he gestures and a single globe of light moves over to the doors to aid Anna in her examination.
As each of you ready yourself for entry and Andjela concentrates on the way ahead, there is a tense readiness in the air, as if the crypt itself is holding its breath for what is to come. Andjela apparently detects nothing of note as she completes her concentrations, and after Anna inspection of the portals you all enter the next way, Tolvans globe of light moving with the group and casting strange shadows as you all move in.
The next room reveals a staircase leading down and a sarcophagus about fifteen feet farther in. Your attention is drawn to the shadows at the base of the stairs, and two giant centipedes turn their attention from each other, to the movement and light at the top of the stairs. They do not look evil, but they certainly look hungry! Kendra fails to stifle a little shriek as the centipedes hiss menacingly.