After seeing that Henric seems OK, Raskir reflects, "Hmmm, they've been dead a while. Maybe the spirits have dispersed." He still gives the bodies a wide berth as he investigates the rest of the building.
"They're too decayed to identify," Henric mutters, poking one of the corpses with his sword. "A shame, really. I would have liked to know the nature of the plague capable of causing such devastation."
Alvoise looks at the church’s interior, curious if it is dedicated to a specific deity. ”Henric, you seem like a man of learning. How long does flesh and muscle take to decay in open air? Should we bury the skeletons, do you think? Or burn the bones? Necromancers dream of places like this. I’d hate to have one find a trove of skeletons like this.”
Henric shrugs. "It depends on a variety of factors - weather conditions, for example; or an increase in insect activity. By my guess they've been here
weeks
since the
months
plague
daysweeksmonthsyearsdecadescenturies lookformarks wherearetheothers ohgodstheyjustkeepcoming
ten years ago," Henric finishes weakly, suddenly sagging again. He leans on his cane for support, knuckles white from the death-grip he keeps on the head. "I'm sure Pharasma would like to see them returned to the soil. Unfortunately, we have more pressing matters to concern ourselves with."
Xaikon remains in the doorway, keeping her eyes surveying the inside the church, while Krist sit on the roof top edge looking over the empty streets.
There is not much to say about the other buildings, they are houses, a blacksmith and an Inn that have been long abandoned and looted several times already.
Searching the library you do find a journal out back of a herbalist who was trying to cure the disease. The herbalist has no success but symptoms included, fever, muscle degeneration, lost of cognitive functions, nausea, lost of skin and finally death. Most were dead whiting 48 hours.
The herbalist suspected the sickness came from the water and had the well destroyed near the end.
In the back of the church you also find a gold chalice (100gp), two silver bells(25gp each), 50 gold and three potions of cure light wounds.
Val returns to the group after her checking of the buildings
"Looks like I got some information on the things that went on here, an apothecary's journal."
Alvoise turns his head to look out the church’s open door as Val enters. ”Well, maybe if we ask nicely the caravan workers will bury them. I’ll even pay them for their time,” he adds in a softer voice.
"Well done, Val. Looks like I was wrong about a book like that being here."
He heads out the door to look for Silas, and once he can speak to him says, ”We found a number of skeletons on pallets. Do you think burying them or burning them would be better? It’s the respectful thing to do, right? Plus, I am uneasy about leaving them alone. Though maybe I shouldn’t be. Any necromancer could have found them by now if he was looking for...resources in the past decade. Since they haven’t been disturbed, maybe they’re unlikely to be in the future.”
Raskir returns with his finds. "I would not loot an active place of worship, but these are doing no one any good. Perhaps we can find a good use for them."
"That is a good find, Val. Alvoise, we can build a pyre, it is an honorable end. Perhaps it will give their spirits rest."
Xaikon speaks up at the ideas being proposed, "I would be cautious of making a burning pyre soon, for it would indicate there is activity in this abandoned settlement from a good distance away. Perhaps we lock up the church again, and when we prepare to leave make the fire pyre to burn the bones."
"She is very much correct with her reasoning. Unwanted attention can be disadvantageous."
”Let’s definitely hold off on the pyre for now. If we do find evidence that the mine is safe to open again, it’d be senseless to destroy a building that people will need to rebuild again.”
"Those bones were left undisturbed this long for a reason. If none of you show signs of sickness by tomorrow I'll have my men bury them, until then we will stay clear of the church." says Silas
The church is a temple of Sarenrae.
”Fair enough Silas,” Alvoise says. He looks at the others in the area. ”So should we get an hour or two exploration of the mine in today?”
Yes, let's take a look."
"I think it's best to check the mine at dawn, when creatures of the night go to sleep"
"I agree with Valeria, mines are dark places, so would most likely be occupied by creatures of the dark and night. Going into mine during the day is best as we would only actively encounter creatures of the dark while come across creatures of night slumbering.".
She looks back into the settlement, "I say we rather look for a safe place to set up camp inside one of the other buildings, and secure the wagons and beasts."
"A structure like a city hall would likely do. Big and usually strong as well as spacious."
"And if we do show signs of sickness, I can concoct a cure," henric nods to Silas. "I've studied the effects of disease enough to kn ow how to stave it off... but this is beyond me. If your men were to bury the bodies, I'm sure we'd all sleep easier.
"As for the mine, I'd much prefer not to venture to its depths when the night is nearly upon us. Rest and perhaps a meal seem to be in order. Let's find a defensible building." With that, Henric walks from the church, turning his back on the years of death.
Ok so you rest for the night while the caravan guards keep watch.
You wake the next morning and prepare for you expedition.
Since none of you show signs of sickness Silas agrees to have the bones buried.
At sun rise Xaikon quickly makes her way to sit upon the roof top while waiting for the other awaken. Once they are up, she joins them for the morning meal, then checks over her gear preparing for the trip into the mines.
As Xaikon comes onto the roof, she sees Jayla sitting there.
"Good morning. Have you recuperated from the trek yesterday?"
Val gets up and does some morning exercises before breakfast
Xaikon smiles, "Yes, I did sleep well. Today is going to be interesting to see what is in the mine, and exactly what happened there."
Henric sleeps fitfully, tossing and turning - those who take note hear him babbling in all manner of tongues throughout the night, speaking of events he couldn't possibly have seen, of foreign lands and strange people, sometimes changing languages in the middle of a sentence. Upon waking, of course, he remembers nothing.
Holding his hands before him, he is distraught to see the brown pigments fading, revealing hints of icy blue skin beneath. Muttering an excuse about needing to shave, he gathers his things and moves away from the rest of the group, shrugging off his coat, rolling up his sleeves, and applying the pigments as best he can. He checks the small lenses over his eyes - at least they still work.
That done, he pulls his coat and cravat back on, knotting the latter with swift fingers as he makes his way back to the caravan. He opens the heavy trunk he brought with him, folds out the small table with its apparatus, and settles into the daily routine of preparing his alchemical extracts.
After a quick breakfast, Alvoise sits outside smoking. His gear is gathered; weapons freshly sharpened. He enjoys the quiet of the empty village.
”Well then,” he says grinding the stub of his cigar against the ground. ”Does anyone need a torch? Any volunteers for leading the way?”
"I don't mind leading the way, as I have no problems seeing in any lighting conditions."
It must be an imparement, not being able to see in the dark. I find it rather to be an advantage.
"Aside from myself, is anybody able to see in the dark?"
After communing with nature for a while, Raskir is ready to explore. "My eyes are sharp in dim light, but I can't see in complete darkness."
Xaikon smiles, "I have no issue in seeing well in dim light and in the dark. We generally hunt at night.", placing one hand onto Raskir's shoulder, "If by chance we end up in complete darkness, stick next to me friend."
"Thank you, friend. I can make light, but there may be a need to remain hidden."
"Depending on what's down there, we could become the hunted.
And knowing if it can see in the dark would be an advantage.
If it can't see when the lights are out, we can attack it or flee without much worry."
Ok so Valeria most likely leads the way into the mine. Do you bring a light source?
Jayla will accompany Valeria in case she decides to spare the torch.
Xaikon falls in line with Raskir behind Valeria and Jayla. Being able to see easily in the dark, she never worried about carrying light source. "If a small light source is needed, those in front can be further forward so to scout and to warn us of impending danger."
If I'm going into a darkened mine, I won't need to rely on magical means of disguise, Henric thinks, grinding the shells of beetles together with iron filings and other components. Hostile creatures are likely, though, and a better means of protection is near-essential. He steeps the stuff in boiling water, reduces it, and strains what's left into a vial, corking it and slipping it into a holder at his belt. The other potion is an easy choice - a concoction of hallucinogenic fungi and the dust of fey wings, with a good dose of valerian root. The only thing that could stave off the voices that constantly whispered at the back of his mind.
His hands shake as he slips that potion into the pocket inside his coat, the small vial bumping against his ribs, a constant reassurance of peace come nightfall.
After throwing out the waste products left by his potion-making, he folds his laboratory down into the trunk, buckling it closed, turning the key in the lock, and slipping it into one of his many pockets. He checks the sharpness of his cane sword, shrugs his shortbow and quiver over his shoulder, and prepares to head into the mines.
"Given enough time, I could have crafted all manner of aids," he mutters. "I have a formula somewhere for rods that glow in a manner similar to moonlight when struck." He decides to walk in the middle of the group - not at the front, where he was likely to ruin attempts at stealth; nor at the back, where he was likely to be left behind in case of an... episode.
”You could make decent coin supplying the mine if it opens. I can see well enough in the dark. Other than natural talent I have no ability for stealth. So at the front others may be better at scouting. I’ll take the rear unless someone else wants it.”
Those who can see in the dark lead the way into the mine while those who cannot carry a torch and follow behind a short distance away.
You travel down the primary tunnel and after traveling around two hundred feet you arrive at a large cavern that serves as an intersection with a tunnel that goes east and another that goes west.
You see rails that start in the center of the chamber and go down the eastern tunnel. In the center of the chamber there is a wagon tipped over and you see a pile of silver ore that was in the wagon and spilled over.
Raskir reverts to his natural, more bestial form as he enters the tunnels, as his eyes adapt to the darkness. Occasionally he chants softly, using Know Direction to keep track of the party's progress.
The shaman cautiously approaches the wagon and attempts to right it while his owl Tuuli circles overhead, acting as a sentry.
Jayla glances briefly hearing something which turns out to be Raskir.
"Interesting, i have not seen that before."\
Noticing the intersection...
"Two roads split here. East and West, East has a rail leading into it.
Valeria....there's a wagon of silver ahead in this chamber."
Attempting to put the cart back on it's side triggers and explosive device buried in the silver.
The explosion itself isn't very powerful but it's incredibly loud!
(it actually deals sonic damage) but pieces of silver ore are flung in all direction like shrapnel.
Anyone whitin 15 feet of the wagon. Reflex dc 15 to take half from shrapnel.
Anyone further than 15 but whitin 30 feet of the wagon.
I will give Raskir +2 on his reflex since the kart will over him some protection from the shrapnel.
Also anyone whiting 15 feet must also make a dc 15 fortitude save or be deafened for 1 hour.
As for the others use your judgement for which zone you are in. Those who can see in the dark are most likely closer to the wagon but I think everyone would be whiting 30 feet.
............"Traps.......?"
On seeing Raskir shift form
"Interesting, So your a skinwalker...."
Seeing the tipped cart with silver next to it, she heads over to it
"Ooww, that hurt."
"You're a skin-changer?" Henric asks of Raskir, raising one eyebrow. "That's most curious. Tell me, to what degree does the beast wrest control of your mental faculties? What advantages does the form have? How much control can you exert over the transformation?"
He's so interested in Raskir's form that he doesn't notice the trap.
Then his eyes widen suddenly - one of the lenses falls to the ground, temporarily revealing the solid white orb beneath - and he flings himself aside, a tomb-robber setting off a deadly spiked portcullis somewhere in the deserts of Osirion. A piece of shrapnel slices open his forehead, but what seeps out isn't blood - rather, it's a viscous fluid, perfectly clear and shining faintly in the dim light.
When he fights down the memory and is sure he's himself again, he pulls himself to his feet, dusting off his knees and elbows, hurriedly wiping his forehead and picking up his lens from the ground. After a quick clean from a vial of some strange fluid, produced from one of many hidden pockets, he attempts to slip it back in without anyone noticing.
When the party is about to enter the mine, Krist flies down to land on Xaikon shoulder as no plans of illumination is being planned while travelling in the mine.
Seeing Raskir changing to a wolf like form next to her, she watches him intently, speaking softly, "Never seen anything like this before. What are you?"
When they enter the cavern, she pauses at the entrance to survey the room. She observes Raskir charging off to a cart that has spilled out ore.
Before she can say anything about the cavern, the explosion takes place taking her by complete surprise resulting in both Krist and herself being hit by shrapnel. Feeling the pain, she curses loudly in her native tongue.
She quickly takes off her bow and notches an arrow while surveying the cavern for other possible dangers and see what happened to her party members.
She moves closer to the others, speaking as she does, "Well, who ever is in here, definitely know we are here now."
Alvoise is within fifteen feet of the cart when the trap is triggered. He is able to drop into a ball and clap his hands over his ears as the shrapnel whizzes past. A few pieces of metal strike his back. After a few moments he stands tentatively. ”I didn’t expect that. Is any one seriously injured?”
As Raskir transforms, those who see him may notice his movements become quicker. They certainly will notice his ears becoming more pointed, and his face contorting. The effect is somewhat unsettling to most humanoid races. He is amused to find himself the object of fascination and not fear and launches into a lengthy reply to the questions.
"Yes, well, not a full skinchanger, but it does give me certain benefits. A better awareness of the natural world. I can control it somewhat. It's not always the same. Sometimes my teeth and nails get sharper, sometimes my reflexes get better, or I can see in the dark." His speech lisps a little due to his contorted face, but his mental acuity seems as sharp as ever.
As he attempts to right the cart, it shields him from the shrapnel but his ears are filled with an intense ringing that won't go away.
6/10 HP
Tuuli avoids the blast, but flutters around disorientedly for a while before perching on Raskir's shoulder.
After gathering his senses and looking around for signs of an ambush, he tries to see any remains of the trigger to tell if it was magical, or anything about how it was crafted.
for ambush
for the trap