Swift:Drop sword
Move:Draw sling
Dangit
The woman nods, taking the schoolteacher to a toolshed not far away from the cottage itself. It smells of dirt and old canvas, and inside, leaning against a back wall and obviously well-loved is a gleaming wooden bow that the zen archer immediately recognizes to be a labor of love years in the making. Some of the aerodynamic scrimshawing is recent, but the bow itself is at least a year old.
If Worren made this, his natural aptitude in making bows is astounding.
Of the flurry of attacks that follow, only Sorval's dart harms the beast. It continues its flight, heading out of the town whilst simultaneously becoming a silhouette on the large full moon.
Follow that bat! Manny grunts as he takes off down the street.
There's a guard tower you should pass on your way out of the city.
Hey, maybe we can tell the guards about the bat man and get some bows.
Horfil follows the bat.
Manny hurriedly knocks on the door or approaches any guard on duty. Hey there! Look over at the moon! That bat thingie has been killin people in town. Can we get some bows to shoot it down?
Considering the structure is open-air on top, a dwarven guard leans over the side to address the knocking at the bottom.
"So that's what that is!T's creeping me out!" he calls from above, his voice echoing a little bit.
"The armory is on the second level! Hurry!"
The armory is obvious. Which is good, because the only person there is trying to take aim with a crossbow out a window next to some stairs.
There are 5 javelins and 2 short spears available.
Manny rushes up with his sling. That stuff is too big for me, I'll use my sling.
Bugger..are we gunna try tracking it out of the city?
Got it.
Skitter..skitter..skitter..
Horfil picks up a Short bow and a quiver of arrows and continues after the bat thing.
"Thanks for the bow!"
Sorval Expeditious retreat has probably worn off now- so she borrows a short bow and a quiver of twenty arrows.
I will return the bow and replace any used arrows; thank you... Sorval quickly bows and is off following the party.
Zeltor handles the bow, surprised by its quality - "This is most excellent craftsmanship..." - he comments absent minded.
Turning to the distressed mother, he adds - "I would like to do a search of this workspace, if you would allow me, and then it is time for me to leave. I will take up the search for your son immediately" - he respectfully expects the womans' consent, or not.
"I will keep following the creature while you retrieve ranged weapons" - Zeltor offers, as he moves along after their fleeing foe.
"Very well." The woman concedes, but she remains watching.
Carefully putting down the well made bow, Zeltor begins his methodical examination of the area, with patient, trained eyes.
Sorval's dart, Zeltor's arrow, and another lone projectile from the guard atop the tower force the monster to crash in the distance, screaming horribly.
Another, similar sound follows.
Manny follows. Not much of a loss I see. Dern goatsucker.
A portion of the shed contains a small workbench with woodcutting and boyar supplies. A crude drawing of a rose is planted above it, probably for good luck.
The tools have to be at least a couple of generations old. They are worn and well-used, though the smaller chisels are all over the place and far more degraded than the other bits.
However, lodged between the workbench and the wall is a partially-finished ring made out of wood covered in intricate symbols. Zeltor has seen them before; they are the signs of a common Taldan engagement tradition.
There is a great deal of other stuff in the shed as well. Mostly shovels, rakes, and extra canvas. However, there is a small stool that standons out near the workbench for the fact there is a toy next to it.
Small footprints little just as much of the floor as those that belong to adults.
Perhaps Ermes would watch and talk to his brother while he was working?
Horfil follows. "Maybe he did survive the fall...
When the group reconvenes (plus one guardsman) at the site of the shooting-down, it is immediately obvious that the man-bat is quite dead. He doesn't revert to his human form, persay, but in his hybrid form, it's still easy to see his skull is stoved in and, well, when something dies, one can smell it.
"Eesh. Well, I guess nonlethal is a bit hard to accomplish on a flying object."
The guard from the armory admits, stowing his crossbow and waiting for some form of explanation.
"Erm... Your bagged friend mentioned murders. I hardly think I can expect anything other than a mashing for dealing with a goatnapper with lethal force." the guard articulates uncomfortably.
"Please tell me the other crimes are more noteworthy? And that you have proof?"
Dead bodies in the attic where he was staying. Man, woman and kid. Been happening for a week and he he has been here for two.
With the half finished ring on his hand, Zeltor turns to the small boy - "Are you in here often with your brother Ermes?" - he also looks in expectation to the mother.
"A kid?" - Zeltor reacts at Manny's comment - "About what age?"
Older, getting near bein a man but still a kid.
Ermes nods slowly after looking at his mother for permission in much the same way Zeltor has.
"He does allow his brother to sit in on his crafting sessions, sometimes. From what I've come to understand, he tells Ermes stories while he does so."
Looking at the footsteps that crowd the area, Zeltor asks Ermes to place his foot next to several of them - "There are many footsteps in here - I would like to confirm if they all belong to the family" - he also makes the same request to Ermes' mother.
"What is your missing son's name, and how old is he?" - he asks during the process.
Sorval checks to see if her dart is still in her target
The guard's brown eyes bulge at Manny's announcement, proving the man to be less than used to this sort of crime. But, given the man's monster status, anything is possible.
"I need you to show me," The guard says simply, perspiring visibly despite the night's chill.
Everyone present allows Zeltor to examine their prints, and the mother provides her husband's spare boots to assist. None of the tracks in the shed are out of place.
"His name is Worren, and he is sixteen years old," the agrieved mother responds, her voice nearly breaking once more.
Let's drag Mr flappy back with us. Manny is all set to head back to the inn.
Sorval retreives the dart out of the were-bat's leg as she follows the others.
Horfil follows the group, keeping an eye out for any more werebats.
Zeltor nods after inspecting all the footwear - "Very well, I will begin my search immediately - as soon as I have any news I will make sure you are informed" - the monk offers a short bow and turns to leave, but then stopping again, he addresses Ermes - "You are a very brave young boy, thank you for all the help you have given me today" - then takes his leave.
While they are returning with the captured bat creature, Zeltor rushes to the room where the reported dead citizens have been found.