Hack asks the group in general.
Do ya need me to circle around the other way and observe from afar?
"Probably best not to wander too far. I'd hate for you to be seen as a bandit or raider of some kind." says Jun without a hint of joking. "We should probably wait here until we are signaled, but while we're waiting, I would like to make a suggestion: everyone should take notes on the bodies without talking to each other, and then we should compare what stood out about them to each of us and try to use that to see if we can figure out what's going on. Also, if anyone who is magically inclined could cast a detect magic spell and then concentrate on it while viewing the bodies, that would be most helpful."
"Right. Good idea." Baen agrees with Jun. "Let's see... I don't think I'm capable of doing that spell. But I'll see what comes to mind when I view them."
Nikeisha considered. "I can't cast that yet either. But we a knowledge of magics will hopefully help."
Waiting around for mayor Camatil to come back around from behind the house is more than a bit nerve-wracking. Made more so because several other people arrived, dismounted their horses, tied them to the picket, and made their own way to the back of the house, all the while giving Akassa’s volunteers queer and wary looks, though, thankfully, none said anything. Standing so patiently and silent the entire group notices, now, something they did not take much notice of on the journey, bees. Hordes of fat and lazy bumblebees flit among the flowers in the garden and the surrounding meadows. Watching the bees is quite relaxing, and the hum of their constant wings is almost hypnotizing. That meditative contemplation is finally interrupted when Camatil, notably sans his bodyguard, comes back around from the rear of the house. It is clear that he has been crying, the soft flesh around both eyes is red, and the eyeballs themselves have the tell-tale glisten of a man that has recently wiped away many tears. When he approaches, you can see that it takes him considerable fortitude to collect himself and speak clearly. That his sentences are succinct gives his emotion that much more credence. ”They are ready for you.” He says, ”this way.” And the proud mayor of Blueblossom Haven leads you around the grape arbor to the back of the house.
Cresting the corner of the well-built structure you are struck by the scene before you. No less than fifty men, women, and even a few children, albeit young adult children, stand or move about the lawn. There is a shallow grave dug just underneath a massive, broad, red-maple tree. On an ornate, oak table, decorated with carvings of vines and leaves, sit two pine caskets. And even from here you can tell that the caskets are small, children’s caskets. Standing next to the caskets, being offered condolences by some of the latest arrivals are a man and woman dressed in black. Sehtoru is common of appearance, which is to say he is of average height and build. Nothing much sticks out about him except his long copper braid. Laureon, Akassa’s sister, has the same jet-black hair as Akassa, but hers is straight, flowing down to the middle of her back. Their backs are turned to you, as they stand in the shade under the maple tree, keeping vigil over the corpses of their only two children, twin daughters, Bethyn and Lillith. This situation obviously requires a great deal of tact, no end of charm, and above all sincerity. That you are here to figure out how to prevent the death of others will of no doubt be little consolation for Laureon and Sehtoru who have lost the light of their lives. Yet, if you are to do your best to find out what is causing this sweep of death, you must have at least a good look at the corpses of Akassa’s nieces.
Standing here, what was mesmerizing before, the hum of the bees, seems to drone out a dirge for the dead children. Perhaps somewhere Aldellion is weeping, and her wild world expresses her mourning. It is into that dirge you must now thrust yourselves, for the betterment of Blueblossom Haven, the betterment of Midvale province, the betterment of the Republic of Byrthelm. To wit, a heroes job is never easy, now, is no different.
"I have a plan." begins Jun quietly. "It will require each of your knowledges of your culture's mourning rituals. I plan to call upon the Tindaran ritual of appeasing the spirits of the deceased with the parents, while I would like Luna, Tavir, and Ashrie to surround the bodies of the children with flowers, which would give you ample time to physically inspect the bodies. Hack and Baen, see how many of those gathered here you can lead in a toast to the deceased girl's memories, and Nikeisha can assist me. This will allow us to save face by offering the blessings of our cultures to the spirits of the departed yet still accomplish our goal. Allow me to do the talking and I will do my best to allow this to happen. If any of you feel as though my arguments are not convincing enough, please don't hesitate to assist me." As he finishes speaking, he draws out and hands Hack and Baen his flasks and says "Try not to drink it all yourselves please."
Jun stand in line to respectfully approach the bereaved parents. when his time arrives, he will begin speaking: "My friends, I can not begin to tell you how much my heart breaks for your loss. No parent should ever outlive a child." he pauses for a moment to let that statement stand before continuing "As I am sure the mayor has informed you, we are here as volunteers to help determine the cause of such a loss as well as how to prevent it from continuing."
Jun turns his body slightly and looks the mother in the eye "I have spoken with my companions and we would like to offer your children the blessings of what gods we know among us. I know it is a poor gift to bring, but should you allow it, I will lead you both in the honorary tradition of speaking to the spirits of the deceased and making a final declaration, while my companion Lady Liraqirelle will surround their bodies in flowers as a prayer to her gods for their eternal peace. Among my friend Shenkt's people, they raise a glass and a good memory to the spirit of the lost, so that they might find their way home again."
Pausing again, Jun says takes the mother's hand and says "Please, I beg of you, allow us to offer what aid we can."
Luna simply stands quietly in line, head bowed down about 2/3rds.
Laureon turns to look at Jun and he sees the well of tears streaming from her dark green eyes. She accepts his hand, squeezing it tightly. Then she turns to her husband, who stands stoic, an almost vacant expression in his eyes; he nods all but imperceptibly. When Laureon speaks it is with cracked and mournful voice, "We are honored by your will to give such gifts to strangers. Our world is brighter for your light." She says, before breaking into another bout of sobs.
Jun's silky voice and smooth charm have done it. Many among you will have a chance to approach the bodies in reverent rites.
Hack opens his flask and raises it over his head, he then bows his head and marches purposefully around the table upon which rest the caskets. As he moves around the table he turns ever so slowly and pours a small amount of the libation to the ground as he faces the departed in his rotation. All the while he hums a throaty dirge.
When he reaches the front again, he raises his head to the crowd, lifts the flask as he spreads his hands wide and shouts.
Skol!
He then takes a long pull on the flask before offering the remains to the father of the departed girls.
He then stands near, just a short distance from the table, with his arms crossed as he scans the area for some sign of what may have befallen the girls.
As Luna awaits her turn she will try to gather Tavir and Ashrie and go gather some of the wildflowers in the area so that they have flowers to put around the caskets. She will look around for some wildflowers while at the same time keeping an eye out for anything that seems out of place.
Gathering up a bundle of flowers and cleaning the soil from them with Prestidigitation, Nikeisha approached the bodies. Laying the flowers between the girls, she chanted a low song in Sylvan, her tone low and soothing and her hands clasped together.
"Lords of Woodlands, Mountains High.
Ladies of Rain and the Infinite Skies.
Master of realms beyond mortal ken,
Or lands that cannot be captured by the pen.
Know these two that come before you now,
They are worthy, this we vow.
Two maids have fallen, innocent.
Assure for them a glorious ascent.
Bless their family with there thoughts,
And the dreams that these girls sought.
Keep them safe throughout all time,
Their names united in the Tome.
Bring all these folk peace of Mind
And by our prayers, there memories bind.
Give comfort to those behind.
And peace each soul shall find."
As she prayed over the pair she ran her eyes across them, hoping to spot something.
Ashire listened quietly to Nikeisha's prayer. It was reassuring for Ashrie to know that someone within the group valued life in the same respect as he did. Ever since the ordeal on the boat he had been having second thoughts about his traveling companions, but Nikeisha's prayer had put his nerves to ease.
Waiting through several moments of silence after Nikeisha's prayer, Ashrie will begin placing the flowers about the children with great respect. Having never partaken in a formal funeral service before, Ashire is a bit uncertain as to how best to go about this, but he makes a good attempt. He places several flowers around the head and sides of the girls, each in turn. He then lightly lifts both arms, setting flowers in the space between the arm and the chest, while also subtly checking for breaks. He then proceeds to do the same with the legs, checking for breaks or irregularities. Finishing with as much reverence as he can muster, Ashrie will turn to the parents with a mournful look.
Approaching the father, he will extend his hand, whilst maintaining perfect eye contact. "I'm sorry for your loss, I know how it feels to lose someone very close to you. Know that they are waiting for you in the beyond... it helps."
Luna will also step over to the bodies and work on arranging flowers around their bodies. She will take special time making a sort of 'crown' of flowers around the heads and taking advantage to carefully feel the heads to see if she can detect anything there. She will lift the heads slightly as well trying to get a feel to see if the necks seem to have been broken or not. She will also spread flower petals all over the bodies taking advantage to observe the bodies closely.
After she is done with the bodies she steps over to the parents and gives them a deep curtsey in a sign of respect. With a look of great sorrow and pain she then takes the mother's hands between the two of her own, "I am Lady Bellaluna Liaqirelle, of the Royal Elven family. M'lady Laureon, I am deeply sorry for your loss. Our Lady Aldellion is surely weeping for the loss of these two young lives as well. All life is precious, btu for them to leave you at such a young age, the loss is even greater. May our Lady Aldellion grant you strength and peace through the difficult days ahead." and turning her face to the father, but still holding the mother's hands, [b]"To you as well sir Sehtoru. Be it known to you both that my companions and I shall do our best to find the cause of this and put an end to it, and try to insure that no others shall face such a loss. We shall also seek to righteously avenge the deaths of your loved ones."
--Byrthelm Republic, Blueblossom Haven, Sehtoru and Laureon's homestead, Midvale Province - Zoguday, 22 Laureoth, 146 R.R. Dusk--
The crowd of family and friends are very receptive of all the strangers' gifts. Prayers and toasts are part of the cultural landscape of many funerals, and having both offered by strangers seems to bring some small light to the darkness of parents burying their children. When the strange mannered elf comes forward and crafts a locket from the magical ether, placing in it beautifully rendered three dimensional images of their daughters, both Laureon and Sehtoru, who previously had been completely stoic, break down into tears, all but falling on the man in emotional embrace. The display is momentarily awkward for him, but Ashrie clutches them tight, whispering his condolences, and as all the others, offering his skills to finding the culprit of this evil. So all is to the good, except that at no point during these interactions with the bodies, does anyone notice anything out of the ordinary. No lingering magic, no marks, no wounds, nothing. The most noteworthy thing that happened during the afternoon's affairs was Bellaluna all but falling into a sinkhole in the meadow as she gathered flowers. Giving the hole a thorough look see she notices it's not a sinkhole, it's part of a larger tunnel, made, quite obviously, by some burrowing creature. The hole is much too big to have been a mole tunnel, and even too big to have been made by gophers. As she gathers more flowers she keeps her eyes peeled for more, and notices there is a criss-crossing network of the tunnels, of varying sizes, all through the meadow. Curious, most definitely, and too unnatural to be coincidence. She makes a mental note to discuss her findings with her new friends after the afternoon's festivities conclude.
As the funeral concluded, the caskets were finally placed in their shallow grave. A stone marker, etched with their names, the Republic Reckoning of their birth and death years (134 - 146 R.R.), and an image of the scythe and sun, Amren's holy symbol, sits at the head of the back-filled dirt. Afterwards, many of the family and friends take to their horses and wagons, heading to their own nearby homes while there is still an hour or two of daylight left. Mayor Camatil, as is due the honor of his political station, was invited to stay with the grieving couple in their house, and therefore told his bodyguards to set up camp in the yard of the homestead. He then took his leave to spend the evening with them, no doubt reminiscing with Laureon and Sehtoru about their happy memories with Bethyn and Lillith, as is the custom of many within the Republic.
Before retiring for the evening, Sehtoru clasped hands with all the company of Akassa's volunteers, and bid them welcome to stay camped in his yard, if they so desire, knowing it is too long of a walk back to town to be made safely in the middle of the night.
Luna will certainly agree to camp out in the yard. As the group starts settling in for camp she will tell the others about the 'holes' she found in the ground and the network of tunnels they make.
When it comes time to 'sleep', she will do her minimum trance period needed, and keep watch the rest of the night, but she will pretend to be laying down sleeping in hopes that something may reveal itself.
Holes, huh? Well, that seemed like it was a definite clue. Perhaps they could examine one of the dead livestock more closely, and pay special attention to the lowers limbs.
Before they went to sleep, Nikeisha hunted for a hole in the yard itself, or nearby. It might be useful to have the closest entrance located, monitored and maybe even trapped.
Hack also move further away from the settlement a bit...looking for a hole, and setting his hunting trap, just out of the hole, baiting it with meat and vegetables from the gathering.
He returns to the others, and he indicates that a trap was set to see if he could catch the burrowing animal
Speaking to the party, "I have my doubts that we will find some of the dead livestock to look at. They have most likely gotten rid of the bodies by now if they have any common sense. But yes, we should try. And good idea setting that trap Hack, though I'm not sure your using the right 'bait' to catch the culprit. It has not been eating meat or vegetables as far as we know. It has always gone after live ... bait?"
As the group sits round discussing matters before bed, Jun says "First off, let me commend you all for playing your parts in our investigation. I think we are off to a good start working together, and I could not have planned such perfect pieces in such a short time, even had I an inkling of your true abilities." Jun looks each of you in the eyes, a Tindaran mark of respect, before continuing:
"I do not think we'll find a natural creature at the root of these deaths. Such a beast would surely have left marks of some kind on the bodies, and having found none, that only leaves the supernatural as the root cause. I am far from an expert on such matters, but given the nature of the situation, it's likely that both girls died at about the same time, likely during the same attack. That means whatever it's method of attack, it likely quick and lethal. I would ask that you think of what stories you can remember, or those of you that know of the supernatural, rack your brains to determine what sort of creature tunnels in the ground and kills without leaving wounds."
As he spoke, Jun had begun to pace, and he draws up and says "Until our business in town is completed, we should not go anywhere alone. If you must travel away from the group, you take another member with you. The code teaches us that vigilance is prudence, and I believe this to be wisdom."
Returning to his seat as he finishes speaking, Jun draws his blade and begins humming to himself as he sharpens it using a stone while he waits for the others to speak.
"Thank you Jun. Yes, all did their parts well at the funeral. Well done! And what Jun here says about staying together sounds wise indeed. I would go so far as to suggest the entire group staying together as much as possible, as, apparently both girls were together, and still they both died without any sign of a struggle."
"I am suspecting the culprit is something that has some way of either paralyzing its victims or possible putting them to sleep? This could be done by magic, or possibly some sort of paralyzing look, like when a cat stares at a bird, or a snake at a rodent? Or maybe the means of death is inserting something through the ears or nose, and that is why no marks can be found? ... I realize some of these ideas may sound far-fetched, but I am just trying to think of possibilities here so that we may be better able to defend ourselves when we encounter whatever is causing this."
Well, then, be sure to wake me for the morning watch.
Hack stretches out on a bedroll with his feet to the fire. He lays on his back with hos right arm resting on his Greataxe that lies beside him.
--Byrthelm Republic, Blueblossom Haven, Sehtoru and Laureon's homestead, Midvale Province - Vikaday, 23 Laureoth, 146 R.R. Middlewatch--
In what can only be described as convergence of fate, the middle watch of Akassa's volunteers, actually takes place in the time frame of the world's darkness that is colloquially referred to as Middlewatch. Though darkness on the surface of Eafphqu is always relative. With four moons, in constant cycle, every night seems to have a fair share of dim illumination cast across the landscape. Tonight is no different, though Sylgja is new, and therefore black, Laureoth the moon for which the month is named, is full, heavy, and bright in the southern sky. The moon the dwarves claim, Durragaim, is in the last quarter of its three year cycle, a waning half-moon. Thgol, the moon of the d'rak, is a waxing half, if it can be called such. Thgol is always a half moon, broken by some cosmic cataclysmic event, it floats around Eafphqu dragging chunks of itself in its own wake. As ever, the d'rak moon reflects the strange, rusty-orange glow, that casts a bloody pall on everything it touches. So sits the sky as Jun and Bellaluna take their watch.
Luna, wanting to bait a trap of her own, much like Shenkt's hunting trap, lays on a bedroll, pretending to do that which the elves are incapable of doing, sleep. Yet she is very much aware of her surroundings, Jun sits up, quietly strumming a relaxing melody on his lyre; he keeps both eyes peeled for danger. Thus it is that Jun is startled, though not surprised, by a creature popping out of the ground mere feet from the camp. He stares at the creature, a worm of some kind, though it is as long as a man is tall. His darkvision gives him a shape and outline, but there is a quality to the skin, an undulating movement of light that makes him decide to switch to his normal quality of vision. When he does so, he is very much intrigued by what his eyes see. The skin of the worm, though covered in dirt because of its burrowing travel, ripples with color. The rubbery skin of the worm undulates and swirls with color. It is a most pleasing effect, and he finds himself mesmerized by the beautiful display.
Luna, as slowly and innocuously as possible, gives her head the slightest turn and cracks her eyes to see the creature, for she too heard it breach the surface of the dirt. She too switches from her darkvision to normal sight, for the very same reason that Jun did, and sees the same radiant, mesmerizing display.
Then, both Jun and Luna experience something they have felt on a few occasions before. A pulsing of magic flows through them. A familiar feeling, if pointless. They both recognize, immediately, that the creature has tried to magically force them to sleep...
Luna continues lying there, not moving at all, other than her head slightly turning as needed to keep an eye on this 'worm'. She wants to wait to try and see what it will do, though she of course will not allow it to harm anyone.
As Luna discreetly watches, and the worm is bathed in the light of their campfire, she sees that the worm's maw is covered, on what could best be described as its "lips," with quivering and undulating tendrils, sort of like long prehensile whiskers. A sight that is made all the more gross because the worm seems to have an an outer mouth and a much smaller inner mouth, each with their own set of lips, and each with their own ring of quivering tendrils. What she clearly does not see, though, are teeth, of any kind.
So I know it casts sleep to put the victims to sleep and get them down to ground level. I suspect it then uses those tendrils to go in through the ears or nose and maybe suck their brains out? Or something along those lines?
Jun's heritage from his mother might have saved him from collapsing into blissful sleep, but it is his heritage from his father that he always tried to live up to. Springing to his feet, he grabs his still-sheathed blade and launches himself at the creature.
Seeing Jun jump into the fight Luna will also jump up and run to the attack.
Jun's quick reflexes prove violently accurate. His sword slices deep into the rubbery hide of the creature spilling blackish-red blood on the ground. As he does, both he and Bellaluna hear a hideous high-pitched wailing shriek emanate from the ripple-colored worm. The intensity of the shriek throws Luna off balance and her kick sails over the top of the ground-hugging monster. Immediately after her kick whiffs the worm, it drives its hideous face into the dirt and both Jun and Bellaluna stand amazed as it burrows straight down, elongating itself to an unreasonable degree. Burrowing into the ground it leaves a hole no bigger than a gopher hole, and is soon gone.
Hack sits up straight at the sound of the shriek. His Greataxe held before him.
What the hell was that?
Baen comes out of sleep and sits up, grabbing at his rapier. "Who?! What?!" he blabbers, startled.
"Jun, we need to know more about how these creatures ... operate? Next time we need to wait and study them more so we know their method of killing better, so that we can thus warn the people of this town about how to protect themselves and also how to protect ourselves. For example, if we knew they go in through the nostrils, we could plug our nostrils when we got to sleep and breath through our mouths, or if they go in through the ears, we could likewise plug our ears, and thus protect ourselves."
"We will of course need to find the source of these worms which means we will most likely need to go underground somehow, and maybe find why these creatures have apparently only recently started attacking surface dwellers. Is someone controlling them and making them do this? Doubtful. Maybe their natural food source has disappeared? Or there has been an increase in their population forcing them to expand their 'feeding area' and if so why?"
"It seems likely that whatever the case we will need to go underground and so we need to be prepared for underground situations such as lighting for those that can't see in the dark. Also ropes and climbing tools just in case we need to do some climbing through caves and such."
"Any other suggestions?"
How about telling us what that noise was and what you saw, for starters.
"I take we had a visitor?" Nikeisha stretched and yawned. "What little bugger was it, then? I reckon it was a giant leech." The Warlock considered. "Leeches burrow, yes?"
"Yes, of course Hack. And yes, we did have a visitor. It was a creature that in general resembled a worm - for lack of a better term - though perhaps leech, could also apply. It burrowed up out of the ground and came towards us. At the thickest end it was probably about the size of Hack's thigh? And it was about 5 ft long! It seemed to have un unusual skin that seemed to undulate and swirl with color,and it had an almost hypnotic effect. Then it somehow tried to cast a magical sleep on us, but fortunately Jun and I cannot be affected by magical sleep. At its largest end it seemed to have a mouth, with quivering and undulating tendrils, sort of like long prehensile whiskers. A sight that is made all the more gross because the worm seems to have an an outer mouth and a much smaller inner mouth, each with their own set of lips, and each with their own ring of quivering tendrils. But I saw no teeth."
"I wanted to study it more to see if it uses those tendrils to enter its victims by their ears or by their nostrils, because then we would know how to better protect ourselves and have something that might help the townsfolk as well. But our companion Jun here was a little over-zealous I'm afraid and attacked the creature and it immediately burrowed back into the ground. If we knew how it killed its victims we could at least try plugging up ou nostrils or ears when we got to sleep, maybe even both?"
"Given how wide it is, I doubt it goes into the ears or nose. If anything, I would guess it goes into the mouth, as that would leave no trace of entry wounds. Given that it already attacked us with a magical effect (likely to make us sleep, as Luna suggests) then I would guess it has some sort of intelligence. Given how it burrows, I'm going to guess it can likely feel the tremors of walking through the dirt."
Having a thought, Jun races around to where the girls were buried to see if there are any holes or disturbed dirt near their bodies.
Using his darkvision and the light of the three glowing moons, Jun walks to the grave of Bethyn and Lillith. Giving the ground a very thorough examination he sees that, besides the recently churned earth of the girls' grave, there are no signs of tunnels or holes. If Jun's guess is right, and the worms can feel the tremors of moving bodies, it would seem to be rather difficult for them to find a corpse.
Luna settles back down for the rest of her watch/fake sleep once they have all discussed these things. She wants to get this night over with so they can go searching in the morning to either try to find some other animal corpses to inspect, or try to find some underground entrance - after they make sure to have the proper supplies of course.
"I do have 10 pitons, 50 ft of rope & 10 torches. We may need more rope, & perhaps more pitons? Do any of you have some rope?"
"'Fraid not," Nikeisha said, yawning again. "Never really needed it in the city." Well, there were a few times it would have been useful. But not generally useful enough to carry all the time.
Aye, fifty feet of it.
"If we need rope, we can acquire some from the nearby town. It shouldn't be that hard."