"No idea, and I rather hope it won't answer the question." Ryu starts to lose patience. "Wouldn't change the fact that I am the closest relative here, and that I can fulfill the duty of a proper pyre funeral, right?" He makes a theatrical move what he ends with open arms.
(Using still your previous sense motive check, you clearly sense he starts to become angry because you want to deny him as close relative to perform the funeral rites)
"Alkaid, if this is Natsu, it would be his right. Though I would at least recommend talking to Ameiko first. But you know her best Ryu. The decision is yours as far as I'm concerned." The serious attitude is definitely not in Sparrow's character.
Ryu calms down, rubs his left hand as he sighs, flashing a thankful smile towards Sparrow meanwhile. "Let's look at it in a practical way. There is no way we can go back carrying the two twisted corpses, and if there is a necromancer near, it could make them attack us again. Unless this priestess here wants to carry them back to Ameiko, I rather have them get a proper funeral, because if we just leave them here and go back without them, they may be gone at a time we get back here."
Ryu kept silent for a moment, then continued. "To have a pyre here is the best, for multiple reasons."
Ryu looked into her eyes. "I will also be willing to add something extra to the list, if you would like it, I could request a dress in your size from the other continent the monks will be coming from. I am unsure how fashion works, but it is unlikely anyone else in this city or perhaps even the whole continent could have clothes from Absalom following the latest trends there." Ryu plans to use the greed and womanly desire to constantly get dresses and shoes to his advantage, and get good results without too much money involved as bribe.
still red on her face, and with slightly slurred wording
"True, he is in his right,
I just asked the question as I learned most other religion's burial rites,
and I thought it would be more comforting for the dead,
if the rites of the religion they followed in life were used when they were put to rest."
The Gnome watches the exchange learning more about the town and its people, his look guarded. "You're a priestess? Good." He indicates the dead 'Mama'. "Do you have any idea what type of undead she was?"
Cilyanka says, Religion is one thing, the undead are something else entirely. The bodies should be cremated now, before we move on. We can let Ameiko know know what happened afterwards.
You guys can drag the bodies upstairs and use some of those statues for firewood. At least they are useful for something.
The goblin, not having found anything helpful to do after casually wiping his blade free from undead-goop, has been crouched near the wall, red eyes following the conversation. Finally, he pipe up, "Biter is'ing to agreeing with Dhegaan'Duuc*." His gesture indicates he's referring to Cilyanka. "Needing to destroy walking deadlings before is'ing to continue into more darking passages." His red eyes shift over to Ryu, "And Friend Ameiko shoulding getting to see shiny from the walking deadling, too... if'ing walking deadling was'ing to be Friend Ameiko's clutch-mom, too.
As an after-thought, Biter's gives the gnome, Ryu, and the giant-man a clap on whatever body part is within range, a shark-grin on his face, "And gooding bitings, all." One red eye winks at Strae, "Really lovings on the fires!"
"The bodies should be cremated now... You guys can drag the bodies upstairs..."
The gnome cocks an eyebrow. "You guys? What's stopping you from lending a hand?"
One red eye winks at Strae, "Really lovings on the fires!"
Strae gives him a little grin and a thumb's up. "I think we're going to get along famously."
Realizing he is definitely equipped for manual labor, Brin quietly gathers up the firewood for the cremation. Carrying a massive amount in a single trip.
Realizing he is definitely equipped for manual labor, Brin quietly gathers up the firewood for the cremation. Carrying a massive amount in a single trip.
Lots of talking, need more doing.
While the others discuss the merits of proper corpse disposal. Kaddoc investigates the tome on the pedestal and other papers there about
He also goes about prying the gemstones out of the demon idol in the previous room.
"Feel free to burn this ugly thing while you're at it.
The dusty tome on the pedestal is filled with drawings of bird demons. The papers scattered around it have similar, cruder drawings.
Ryu helps gathering wood for the pyre, as he looks at the two former people that he managed to identify, he is now sure that a necromancer had its hands in their creation, and that necromancer still has to be around.
"Thanks for the help" He mumbles to the others.
Ryu takes out an unwritten paper and quickly writes up a formal agreement based on what they agreed on, of course keeping "return investment" a bit unclear, which includes the dress and cheaper trinkets. "We just have to sign this somewhat formal paper so that there is something I can show to my father to prove I have already some backing for the project. I am going to our family estate next to convince him." After some silence as he waits for her to sign the paper Ryu speaks again. "Right, and please write your measurements for the dress here." He takes out a smaller piece of paper.
When the giant sees that the wood he gathered is now going back outside, he gives the group a strange look. He stoically turns around and carries the heavy load back outside.
While they prepare for the burning, Sparrow will keep an eye on the southern door, just in case.
she thinks to herself
"It would have been better to ask they dead what they wanted."
As the pyre is built up Ryu takes a few steps away from it, looks through his backpack, and starts to hum an exotic melody as he prepares for the ceremony.
Kaddoc's is having an internal argument with his footwear. His boot is making an increasingly strong argument for kicking down that other door.
Kaddoc, Sparrow, this place is very creepy. You could swear you can hear whispering voices somewhere in this room.
Cilyanka heads back upstairs to watch Brindolfin Statck the firewood for the funeral pyre.
So Brind, what brings you to our quiet little corner of the world?
Sparrow turns to Kaddoc, "I really hope they hurry up there. This place is starting to give me the creeps. Well, worse than before. The walking dead, y'know they're out there, but to actually see one up close like that. If it's got a pulse, you can kill it." She strains to listen, "I swear I hear somone whispering. You hear that?"
@Sparrow:"Aye, I hear it. The unquiet dead perhaps. This place feels unclean."
Brin looks back to Cilyanka, "My father wandered these lands and found a human mate. I know she was Varisian and I think she was from Sandpoint. So I am trying to connect with my roots. I don't fit in with the 'full giants'."
Brin stops to put emphasis on the words full giants, but he is much to macho to EVER use his hands to put air quotes over words.
Alkaid overhearing Kaddoc
"You hear what?"
Straehan stays out of the way - his size making him all but useless in the cremation and hauling bodies arena. He remains below with Sparrow, Kaddoc, and Biter. He notes the half-orc's itchy foot. "I wouldn't mind seeing what lies beyond that door. And we are scouts after all. It might be professionally irresponsible to not do it." His grin says it all...
Sparrow slides up to the door in an overly dramatic fashion, "Just gonna check it for traps and such."
You don't spot any traps.
"So, no traps. But still voices."
"What voices?"
Ryu finishes with the preparations, either ignoring the missing of some of his companions, or not realizing it. As he steps to the pyre with the corpses on it, he thinks how it is great that the Phoenix Cult has two variants for the funeral ceremony, one about rebirth and peace, and one about vengeance and hunt. As the latter doesn't require you to kiss the corpses it is the one he choose to perform. Ryu doesn't really want to kiss undead things.
As Ryu's humming becomes stronger he begins to chant in different languages to the rhythm first softly, then he takes out a black mask with the firebird painted on it, and puts it on his face. The ceremony has begun.
Common [In the name of the Divine Phoenix, let us mourn our brethren who have been taken from us by vile, sinister creatures.]
Ryu suddenly had a dagger in his hands appearing from somewhere, and raised it to the sky.
Kelish [Under this burning sun of majestic fire, they are given to the flames of life and death, to be purged and cleansed of taint.]
The dagger is suddenly engulfed in fire, and as Ryu points with it to the funeral pyre the flames crawl over to it, and soon the wood and undead corpses both are aflame while the fire is gone from the dagger's blade.
Tien [The Divine Phoenix always grants us a wish of rebirth or revenge for the fallen. I offer these souls the Oath of the Hunter and promise that those who deserve it will also burn in fires, although those will be full of wrath and anger, and not forgiveness. Their soul will burn eternal in the Prisons of Fire.]
The voice of Ryu becomes stronger, fire sparks and ashes form a little vortex around him, particles going back and forth between the pyre and those surrounding him. He then quickly moves his right hand, still with raised dagger in it, and cuts his left wrist. Blood is flowing from his arm on the burning pyre. The flames hungrily reach after the source of it but they don't burn Ryu.
Varisian [Let me aid you in finding peace, and rest well, until you see revenge on your murderers fulfilled and till you are chosen by the Divine Phoenix to be reborn anew, to live a new life granted by the fire, without the burden from your past lives.]
The pyre burned with unnaturally strong flames, the wood and the corpses quickly turned into ashes, it is as if the silhouette of a phoenix appeared in the fire before it grew in size a last time, begging for further food, before being extinguished lacking further nourishment.
Ryu put away his dagger, and grabbed a handful of hot ashes from the pile. He took off his mask, and softly blew at the ashes in his hand, which flew up into the high sky, then scattered around in the distant. His eyes reflected the flames of the burning pyre, despite it being already gone.
Still with a wounded arm, Ryu silently packed away the mask of the Flame Reaper among his other possessions, and leaves to join up with those missing from the ceremony with a nod towards those who have stood there and witnessed it, noting that it is done now.
The time for ceremonies is over, now the time came to hunt down the necromancer.
"Let the Hunt begin." He whispers.
Brin smiles and nods. "Well done."
"I wouldn't mind seeing what lies beyond that door. And we are scouts after all. It might be professionally irresponsible to not do it." His grin says it all…
Biter shakes himself out of a half-stupor, head lolling to the side against the stone wall. Wiping a river of drool from the corner of his mouth, he nods, "First good'ing idea Biter is'ing to hearing a while."
Biter -- unaware that the ritual thing is over -- pushes the second stone door open, bow back in-hand.
OK, marching order, please.
Who's up first?
You enter a long corridor, simmilar to the one behind the other door. Much like that corridor it has two collapsed tunnels leading off of it. The main difference is that it doesn't end in another room, but in another spiral staircase leading down. A rusty woodcarving knife is laying at the top of the staircase
You see Biter rush ahead of you and suddenly yelp as he rises in the air, jerking like he's been stung by bees. As he dos so, carvings of birds appear on his skin.
Biter, Dex check not to fall, please.