"Hmmmmm. I wonder if fire will hurt it? Whatever it is…"
As Hailey and the horse master discuss the attack, Garekk saddles the horses and gets them ready to go. "If we are not going to look after this tonight, we should get moving. Night is almost upon us. Hailey, perhaps we can come this way in the morn and you can try again."
Flandrion says, "It looks like we've done what we can here, let's go back to the village."
"I'd be interested in knowing what kind of creatures with claws can inflict bites that don't heal. Hopefully vulnerable to fire too, of course."
Draalûsh will try to assist Hailey with her research to see if there's any information to be had about the nature of the beast (whatever it is).
You make it back to the village about half an hour after dark, those who are interested can do some research at the church library.
Otherwise there are several options for where to stay, from the dodgy Broken Spoke, the decent Second Pint, to the extravagant King's Cup
Flandrion says, "From the look of things I'd recommend the 2nd pint."
Hailey will let the men decide where to stay. She is interested only in research.
First, she'll research on religion because it's what she knows best.
[dice=Knowledge: Religion.]1d20 + 9
Then she will study nature, seeking information on quadrupeds.
[dice=Knowledge: Nature]1d20 + 4
Your research convinces you that this is not caused by any undead.
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Somewhat disappointed, Hailey will spend as long as she can in the library reading everything she can find that might be remotely useful in the treatment of fevers.
As fond as I am of research and study, I do admit that I wonder why these people around here seem incapable of doing anything for themselves. I remember my disdain for the unenlightened and I see it was the correct position.
So be it then. After this, no more Miss Nice Priest. Back to being myself; here to do a job and gain knowledge. Oh, yes I am interested in picking up some training in healing because it will not do to lose my new companions, but . . .
No, Hailey. Archmages, and more importantly, masters of both the arcane and divine must pay their dues in the library and out of it. This is all part of the price. So look at healing this man, or at least giving him a chance, as just another test of faith. You don't have to heal everyone. You don't have to heal anyone. Just finish your quest, this one personal quest, for you honor Nethys by research and study. Though I wish Sister Sweetness and Light were here. Not that she could help any better than I can. Her knowledge of healing seemed limited to spells, a fact that I share but that I will correct. Just selfishness on my part. With her here, I didn't have to be nice.
But that's taking up attention I should put on my quest so it's back to the books.
I forgot Draalûsh is here. So long as he stays with her, she will probably speak with him on any subject he wishes, and probably tell him everything she knows about Nethys, the only true god (it's Hailey, what do you expect?) and Nethian religion.
"Lord Nethys, I know you are unconcerned by matters that do not relate to magic. But I pray of thee, could you be so gracious as to provide me a bit of guidance?"
Flandrion will get himself settled in the Second Pint, possibly taking a room with some of the other party members if they want to. But Flandrion's main concern is going to be making contact with the local thieves guild behind the church.
Flandrion will get himself settled in the Second Pint, possibly taking a room with some of the other party members if they want to. But Flandrion's main concern is going to be making contact with the local thieves guild behind the church.
When you arrive you see that each of the 5 individuals are completely covered by their robes and their faces are hidden in shadows.
One is clearly a small race, the others all medium.
"Greetings outsider, I am Twelve Toes. What can we help you with and what do you offer in exchange."
"Well, Hailey, these books aren't very helpful on matters arcane. I wonder if that , whatever it is, could be from another plane?"
With that, Draalûsh, will research anything he can find on the possibility of the beast attacking the farmhand being from another plane.
Stifling a yawn, Draalûsh turns to Hailey: "Nothing useful leaps out at me from these books. I don't know about you, but I could use some sleep. It won't do either of us or the injured worker any good if we plant our faces in these pages instead of on pillows in the Second Pint."
Flandrion replies, "My name is Flandrion and as you can probably guess I am from Kyonin. I seek nothing more than a trade of money for information. I will throw in as a freebie that unguilded thieves have been operating on the road between the village and the ranch where they raise and sell horses."
"As for the information I would like to get I have two main areas of interest. The first is that I would like to know if you have been having any problems with necromancers in the area. The people I am with have been tasked with trying to put a stop to that sort of thing and any good information I could get about what's going on in that regard would be most helpful."
"The second thing I am interested in involves a personal quest. 900 years ago my great grandfather and great grand uncle joined the Shining Crusade against Tar Baphon. Neither they nor the people they were serving with came back to Kyonin. After the passage of so much time I doubt that I will be able to find out much about what happened to them. However, my great grand uncle who was the older brother was carrying the heirloom longsword of our House. There is a very small chance that the sword may be findable. So, what do you know of any good quality elven longswords that may be in the area?"
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While everryone else is rushing around seeing to their own matters, Garekk goes to check in at the Second Pint. Once he has secured rooms and stabling, he stows away the party gear in everyones rooms, and then goes down to see to the horses, mule, and pony; currying them and making sure they are settled before he himself seeks refuge in his bed for the night.
Flandrion replies, "My name is Flandrion and as you can probably guess I am from Kyonin. I seek nothing more than a trade of money for information. I will throw in as a freebie that unguilded thieves have been operating on the road between the village and the ranch where they raise and sell horses."
"As for the information I would like to get I have two main areas of interest. The first is that I would like to know if you have been having any problems with necromancers in the area. The people I am with have been tasked with trying to put a stop to that sort of thing and any good information I could get about what's going on in that regard would be most helpful."
"The second thing I am interested in involves a personal quest. 900 years ago my great grandfather and great grand uncle joined the Shining Crusade against Tar Baphon. Neither they nor the people they were serving with came back to Kyonin. After the passage of so much time I doubt that I will be able to find out much about what happened to them. However, my great grand uncle who was the older brother was carrying the heirloom longsword of our House. There is a very small chance that the sword may be findable. So, what do you know of any good quality elven longswords that may be in the area?"
"This is Ustalav, necromancers are always somewhat of a problem. But specifically more so right now than normal.
As to your second question, do you have any details about the blade beyond it's elven make? A blade could have passed through a hundred hands since those days and traveled far."
Flandrion replies, "I know little more of the blade than that it is at least of masterwork quality and has the House coat of arms inlaid into the hilt as well as having the House motto engraved into the blade itself. There was information about the blade that was only supposed to have been passed down from one sword bearer to another, but that information has been lost."
"As far as necromancers go, I take it they have been more active than usual lately?"
Flandrion replies, "I know little more of the blade than that it is at least of masterwork quality and has the House coat of arms inlaid into the hilt as well as having the House motto engraved into the blade itself. There was information about the blade that was only supposed to have been passed down from one sword bearer to another, but that information has been lost."
"As far as necromancers go, I take it they have been more active than usual lately?"
"Only reports from other local guilds, no pattern seems to have emerged yet, but the further north you go, the more activity you will find."
Flandrion says, "I will likely be leaving here tomorrow or the day after. My companions and I will be headed north. I realize that does not give you much time. Is there someone I could talk to in town during the day or would I have to come back here tomorrow night?"
Flandrion says, "I will likely be leaving here tomorrow or the day after. My companions and I will be headed north. I realize that does not give you much time. Is there someone I could talk to in town during the day or would I have to come back here tomorrow night?"
"Visit the cloth weaver behind the barracks after noon. As for a southern blend blanket."
Flandrion replies, "Thank you for your time."
Flandrion waits a moment to see if anybody else has anything to say, then he heads back to the inn. When he joins up with the rest of the party and gets them in relative privacy he says, "Some of the information I was looking for will not be available before noon tomorrow, so we will not be able to leave until some time after then. I have also heard that in general problems with necromancers increase as one heads northwards. Though other than that there is no easily discernable pattern to what is happening."
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Garekk takes Flandrions news stoically. "Well, that fits with our reports of the necromancers using the fortress to the north. We managed to secure the horses.. all that is left for us here then, is to attempt what we may tomorrow to ease that poor lads suffering on our way out of town. After your meeting, of course."
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"Since it worked so well before, I'd like to take someone with me and investigate the area where the man was harmed. I'm sure now that's not related to the undead, at least not directly.
"But an illness that bad could be studied and us . . . I mean, defeated and checked. Yes, defeated and checked before it spreads to the wider community. Besides, it could still have a magical cause, even if it isn't related to the walking dead directly.
"Once I'm done investigating that, of course, I would be more than happy to journey up north. It sounds exciting."
The rest of the night passes uneventfully. Another cold, rainy morning awaits you.
"Morning, all! I'm ready to check the area Buddy was hurt."
Flandrion says, "Ok, let's grab breakfast and go."
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In her morning prayers, Hailey will beseech Nethys for guidance.
She will also prepare Detect Magic, Mending, Create Water, Protection from Evil, Cure Lt. Wounds, Comprehend Languages (d), Ray of Frost, Daze, Mage Hand, Shield, Charm Person, & Ray of Enfeeblement.
When she is fresh and ready, Hailey will come down.
"The rain will work against us in the investigation. But I won't let it beat me."
Maybe whatever it was won't be so shy about finding us!"
Flandrion says, "Agreed that we need to go after the necromancers, but I still have people to talk to here at noon. They may have information that we need."
"Should we let Flandrion meet his acquaintances while we look for that beast in the fields, or should we wait for him to do than and go looking for the beast? Either way is fine by me."
Flandrion says, "It may be possible for me to help some with the investigation before I return for my meeting. At least that's what I'll try to do."
The party arrives back at the ranch about an hour after sunrise. The sick man is still locked in the grips of the fever, but his other wounds have healed and the fever seems to be less severe.
Other than one ranch hand that is sitting with him, everyone else is back to work. Though there are still several guards with weapons.
"We start to look at the place this wounded man was found. Seems the most likely place to start, to my mind."
Draalûsh will aid Hailey with the search
Flandrion will aid in the searching.
After being directed to the site where the man was attacked you see several dried blood pools and tracks from an animal leading to and from the site along with many tracks around the blood pools.
Draalûsh will try helping Garekk with the tracking
Following along with the rest of the group, Garekk looks around at all of the tracks, trying to identify them and figure out what happened. Once he has done this, he will see if he can follow any of them.
[dice=Survival]1d20+5
You realize that these are the tracks of a large wolf and they head south, away from the road.