"Excellent. A great way to carry a fallen comrade!"
The ranger hefts the shield out of the nest, carrying it back down to the party.
"Found this. And some gems." Virgil pauses, thinking of what to say.
"Maybe someone back at Zelkor's Ferry can help?"
"Should we take Dolgrin's body back there? I doubt he'd want to be buried in a place like this!"
It would take a few hours to get back to Zelkor's Ferry from here.
Katzor casts cure light wounds on Elastras
Then channels
As Elathras responds to Katzor’s healing, the wounds on his shoulders and chest, caused by the great birds claws, can be seen closing through the holes torn in the scalemail, and though no longer bleeding are still pink and raw. The scratches on his face become hairline scars. His skull, which suffered the most damage from the fall, slowly reknits itself, leaving a great white scar on the back of his head and his long blond white hair matted to his skull with blood and ichor. As his eyes open the bright blue eyes are gone in their place is a dull stare. His mouth hangs open, with bits of spittle drooling down his chin. As he attempts to stand, bracing himself with one hand on the floor he stands like an infant taking its first step, calling out as he grasps his back, ”It hurt.” Just as he comes to his feet, stumbling slightly he sees the crumpled body of Dolgrin, bent in ways a body should not bend. Elathras looks at the dead Halfling then at the pool of his own blood at his feet, then looking up he sees the stairway that they fell from. Finally his eyes rest on the dead raven that caused their loss. Elathras eyes shift, his mouth opens wider and then closes with his lower lip stuck out a little bit. It seems the gears of intellect seem to be slowly stirring, he finally lowers his head and says ”dumb dead bird.” He then walks over to the fallen form of Dolgrin, picking up the body in his gentle hands he cradles the valiant paladin. Ignoring his dropped Guisarme and walking past the rest of the team he walks out of the tower into the early sunlight. He stands there, looking around as if trying to remember where he is, occasionally looking at the dead paladins face, slowly as if an afterthought he reaches up and closes Dolgrin’s eyes. He walks over to the wall, placing his back on it he slides down to a seated position, never releasing his grip on Dolgrin, and there he sits occasionally brushing Dolgrins hair out of his eyes when the wind stirs it.
"Lets take him back to the Ferry. This is no place to let a hero lay. Perhaps we can find a priest willing to negotiate a decent burial for the little fella."
Meanwhile, at the ferry
Horrible journey, all cold and awful. When Third comes through she'll be upset, I can tell you, not that it'll be any of my trouble then. The half orc sighs, then pats his knee and looks around the pier.
You say the little guy rode your boat and exitted here? Huh. Odd place for note, but I'm sure it's more than meets the eye. He eyes the smithy a moment, then sighs happily. That's impressive, that is. He looks back at the boatman and waves him off. Oh, I'm sure the little fella will be all right. We're connected, somewhat. We even share a name. Name's Dolgrin, Dolgrin Brightlaughter. Now where, ah. There.
Dolgrin Brightlaughter, the second, walks into zelkors ferry and begins making plans for a funeral.
You see in the middle of the common a small crowd of about 15 people sitting around listening to a priest telling stories and giving a blessing.
"Look! Another Half-Orc, says Wdrozgrúk cheerfully."
"Although, thinking about it, while he is interesting, he's also a bit … somehow. Oh well. Nobody's perfect."
Elathras, still carrying the body of his fallen companion, Dolgrin: follows the team out of the castle and down the hill that led them to the gate house. As they head south they follow the river back to Zelkor’s Ferry. When they enter into the middle of the town commons, Elathras stops behind the party members. He takes his time and observes the a small crowd of about 15 people, sitting around listening to a priest telling stories and giving a blessing, and the handsome young half-orc, in armor similar to Dolgrins, who had also stopped in the commons to observe the simple service of the priest.
"Father, what would you charge a poor band of adventuring folk, who has lost a noble warrior, for a few words and a burial? He died fighting off a fiendish creature, allowing the rest of us to still be walking as of this day."
At Kaztor's words, Dolgrin looks up.
Right on schedule. Farewell Thomas of Albertine. Your debt is paid.
He continues, smiling in turn at Wdrozgruk and Elathras.
Surely a noble death requires no other reward. Hail and well met, I am being Dolgrin Brightlaughter, and you have in your arms my brother in service. Lay him to rest anywhere, or set him aflame as your custom demands, but take from his body his symbol of Note and any other such remembrances you might wish. The soil and the flame care little for the goods of men, and Dolgrin would not wish waste.
The priest stops and comes over to you, "Lay him over here please. We will bury him next to the shrine." You see a few stones that appear to be the beginning of work on a shrine. "I do not charge for my services, but if you could provide a few stones for the shrine Arden would be pleased." He looks at Virgil, "Hello Virgil, blessed be the sun. Some of you are injured I see." He does a heal check on Elethras and channels
"I fear this head wound is beyond my ability to cure. You will have some pain I am unable to relieve you of my son." apologizing to Elathras for his failings.
"You still helped us... a lot. Well we cleared a fort inhabited by gnolls and kobolds. At least you should be a bit.... safer now."
Virgil nods to the priest, touching his hand to his heart and head in a gesture of worship. "Blessed be the sun, father. Thank you for the healing."
The ranger turns to the new Half-Orc, confusion creeping across his face. "...You're Dolgrin too, then?"
"He was small, but he was brave. A good fellow, no doubt of it!"
Kaz joins Virgil in the questions. "Are you both Dolgrin? Was one of you adopted?"
"I am Bjorn, Bjorn Birgstrom priest of Arden."
"Pleasure to meet you Father. I'm Kaztor Strongforge....more of a Dwerfater man myself, but Arden is fine in my book as well. Thank you for taking in what's left of our little warrior. If there's anything we can do to repay the debt, please, let us know."
We are all Dolgrin, in our time. He was Dolgrin, and I am Dolgrin, and Dolgrin will follow after. It is Note's way. For now, if he was your companion, then surely I will be as well. What are we to be doing?
The half-orc seems strangely accepting of the confusion.
Elathras nods to the priest saying "Thank you" and he takes the brave halflings body and lays it beside the shrine, he then moved his arms, neck and chest that feels better he then reaches behind his head, feeling the scar and the matted hair he goes to the nearest horse trough, dipping his head in he tries to wash out the gore. Having little success he pulls his wet head out of the trough, before he joins the team he goes looking around for stones to add to the shrine, taking what the cleric said very literally.
He can find a few along the shore line, but the party may have to go outside the gate to get anything of any size at this point.
Speaking to Dolgrin (the Half-Orc one), Wdrozgrúk explains: "We are trying to purge an abandoned fortress that's been overrun by goblins, gnolls and others attached to Orcus worship. That's where your predecessor, the smaller Dolgrin, fell in battle against a monstrous bird."
"Perhaps you can use this large shield we found there? None of the rest of us are skilled in its use."
The half orc laughs.
A shield.
He continues guffawing.
Aye, I've been trained, but I cannot use a whee shield and a great large bessie, now can I?
He gestures at his Falchion, his eyes watering with humor.
I can carry it if it makes ye feel better, but it's a tiny shield for me compared to my bessie. Let's take a look for this stone for the priest, and you can tell me all about this orcus matter.
Elathras brings the few stones he finds near the shoreline to the priest for the shrine, setting them down gently he goes over to the team. Watching as the new Dolgrin points at his falchion and laughs at the idea of carrying a shield, Elathras turns, his eyes still dull and listless, and asks Virgil, "More stones Virgil?"
"Yeah Elathras. Lets go find some stones." Virgil looks at the Half-Elf, pity and sadness briefly shining through his mustache.
He can find a few along the shore line, but the party may have to go outside the gate to get anything of any size at this point.
Elathras follows Virgil outside the gate looking for stones of the appropriate size.
Elathras returns with as many large rocks as he can find for the shrine. After he drops them near the priest he waves good-bye to the corpse of Dolgrin the Halfling and returns to the rest of the party. He asks "we go now?"
"I'm ready to go back. Hope my fire magic works a bit better this time!"
Irenicus yawns, twirling different colored tiny balls of light between his fingers. "If the findings are all sold and provisions secured then let us be off before it grows dark."
"Aye, let us return to the castle. I hate unfinished business behind. And little Dolgrin would want us to clean this place in his name. Just let me get a few more arrows. Blunt and such."
After that Mitleid checks the area for a decent fletcher, trying to buy 20 blunt arrows and restock his used ones.
You should be able to buy those at Pye's Mittleid.
As the group approach the castle, Virgil will attempt to scout ahead and see if anything else has returned to the castle before them.
Elathras toddles after Virgil, gnoll axe and shield in hand
Virgil cringes as the barbarian lumbers along behind him; attempting to signal that he return to the group. Finally, Virgil gives up, sighing.
"Wizards, sorcerers, look at this shield. It is magical alright. I'm not sure what powers it has, but maybe one of you could divine that for us."
"I am unable to discern its nature. Perhaps tomorrow."
If we safely get back to the castle, and it's late in the day, Kaz would be up for a rest. He says his fees to Dwerfater before taking his usual position in the watch.
If anyone still has wounds, he will use a channel before bedtime.
Channel
Reroll your channel, any healing of all 1's gets a free re-roll in my game.
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