Chloe is able to determine the extent of the young man's wounds while Karoz stands nearby. While he is close to death's door, he seems to have stabilized for the moment. Removing the arrow in his back would definitely change that. He will need long term care to recover, but he is currently in no danger.
Corbyn, Morin, Sarusa and Tekkis make their way into the barn where they find four horses and two more mules. Two of the horses are large, shaggy draft beasts, with roan coats and sandy manes, as tall as Tekkis at the shoulder and obviously capable of moving a great amount of weight. The other two horses are smaller, one dappled white and grey, the other black with a white star on it's brow and white socks on its hind legs. They are obviously meant for riding. The grey mules bray as you come close to them. While the animals have not been curried recently, they seem to be in good health. There is fodder near them, and saddles, bags, bits and bridles all close at hand as well as a trough in each stall. Shovels and pitchforks round out the goods. The not unpleasant odor of horse manure is present, but not overpowering thanks to the collapsed back wall. All else is still except for the trio of flies taking their meals.
In the hayloft, under a large pile of torn and bloodstained clothes, your group finds the remainder of the highwaymen's ill gotten gains. Casks of spices, bolts of cloth, and a case of fine wines sit next to a small locked chest.
The trade goods include:
5 bolts of fine purple silk (10gp each) 50gp
A 10lb cask of Cinnamon 10gp
A 10lb cask of Saffron 150gp
10 bottles of sealord red wine (15gp each) 225gp
The chest contains pieces of gold and a single platinum ingot.
Morin climbs up the ladder and helps sort out the valuables from the bloodstained garments, and takes a careful look at the lot.
"My that's a jumble of stuff, not like a nice neat ship's cargo. Can't really make heads or tales of its worth."
He then turns his attention to the chest. He looks into a small flat pouch at his belt, reaches in and pulls out a tiny metal tool. He squats down in front of the chest and sets to work, a look of concentration on his face.
After a few moments, the lock springs open and Morin carefully opens the chest. A smile crosses his face as he picks up a handful of gold pieces and lets them tumble through his fingers, then he pauses and whistles softly as he picks up the platinum ingot. "Ay, these boys had been at this a while, and had some luck in their nasty business."
"...He will survive, Karo." Chloe remarks at last, wincing as she realizes how deeply Corbyn's arrow is embedded.
"Though.. I may have to wake him... to pull this out."
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While Morin takes care of the loot (or Booty as I believe sailors refer to it) Corbyn is more interested in the well being of the Horses. A Wagon is larger than a Cart but requires 2 beasts of burden.
Corbyn inspects and prods the horses to see if either are combat trained. As fantastic as Plod is, He's kind of a sissy when it comes to fighting.
Take 10 on Knowledge Nature or Handle Animal (Same Bonus) for a total of 16.
As fantastic as Plod is, He's kind of a sissy when it comes to fighting.
Karo begins to pace around Chloe and Volorio. I wonder if they're ok. I don't here any sounds of fighting. I'm afraid to call out to them, they may be sneaking up on someone. Do you sense anything Chloe?
Morin speaks from the top of the ladder to Corbyn and Tekkis, "Hey, can I get a little help bringing down all this loot? There's wine, and spices, and silk - and gold! Not to mention a great bar of platinum! Too much for me to get down that ladder. And we'd do well ta put our heads together a bit and try to estimate what this is all worth. There's a good 500 gold worth, with the coins and the ingot, but I'm not sure of the value of the other bits, 'ceptin' I know that wine would go down fine."
He calls out more loudly, "Karo, Chloe! We found their hidey-hole fer sure! They weren't no turned-out farmers a'tall, their nasty business turned 'em a fat profit. Come have a look-see!"
"I-I'm sure they're fi-," Chloe begins to assure Karo before Morin's voice rings out. -ine."
"Well, th-that explains why the young man left.. for the barn!" Chloe calls back, somehow sounding airy even in high volume.
The oracle makes her way to her feet after draping her cloak over Volorio. She'd finish when there were others to restrain him should he try to flee again.
She will follow Karo if he moves to join the others, but will otherwise keep a vigil where she stands.
Curiosity getting the better of him, Karo begins edging toward the barn and overhearing Corbyn. I agree Corbyn, as a matter of fact I think we should take all the animals and anything else. The animals need looked after, at least until we reach Standpoint. We could make better time with everyone riding and we will need the wagon to haul everything.
Sarusa checks out the horses, whickering and clicking to them affectionately, picking burrs and flecks out of their hair. She casts about for something to clean their frogs and a pick for their hooves, gently lifting each fetlock in turn.
"These are good horses. Let's give them some work. Eh, boy? Good roch, gilroch," she says petting the horse with a star on its brow.
Standing in the hayloft and looking down the ladder at Corbyn, Morin holds up a bottle of wine and a bolt of silk and says "Didn't we have a conversation like this just this mornin', afore the squall we had, where Chloe said her haversack's near full, and full of fragiles at that?"
Morin looks over his shoulder at the robbers' stash and says "It's not so much to carry as all that, they were highwaymen, not the Primarch of Absalom. But if ye wish, get the horses hitched to the big wagon and bring it on down to the barn, an' we can shift this cargo into it direct. And then before we leave this curs'd place, I'd like another chance to chat with the boy Corbyn shot, if Chloe's got 'im patched up, and see what we can learn about their bad business."
Chloe looks up from behind Karo, though not really in Morin's direction.
"Is.. is there less than forty pounds of goods? That's what I can put in there... in the side pockets. Tekkis's armor would have.. caused the entire thing to go..."
"The young man... outside... he's alright, for now... but I need to wake him to pull an arrow out... If I do it in his current state, he... he won't survive, I don't think. Um, I also would rather do it after we're ready to leave... Perhaps even in the wagon. I'll have to see to him for a while."
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Standing in the hayloft and looking down the ladder at Corbyn, Morin holds up a bottle of wine and a bolt of silk and says "Didn't we have a conversation like this just this mornin'?
Corbyn gives himself a light smack on the forehead.
"Of course, how silly of me. Here, just pass everything down to me and I'll store it neatly until I can get all the animals harnessed properly."
After Chloe drapes Volorio with her cloak, she and Karozekas join the others in the barn and assist with the spoils.
All of you together are able to figure the value of the goods.
Corbyn and Sarusa busy themselves with the animals.
Corbyn determines that all four horses are trained for riding (none are trained to bear a rider into combat, though all could be given the appropriate time and effort.) The mules are trained for labor.
Sarusa finds brushes, picks and all other necessary tools to curry the beasts among the stalls, as well as eight bedrolls and blankets in need of a good wash, some spare clothes, a whetstone or two, three coils of hemp rope, a large tarp, enough salted pork and hard tack to feed eight men for three days, and enough cheap wine to keep them drunk for a fortnight.
Soon enough, the horses and mules coats are gleaming, and their manes are free of tangles. All are well shod enough to make it to Sandpoint, though you would not vouch for the cheap iron on their hooves any further than that.
Soon the wagon is loaded and all four mules are hitched to it. The horses are saddled and seem eager to run, if their stamping and snorting is any indication.
After everything is loaded, Tekk walks over to the young man. He bends down, removes Chloe's cloak and lays it over his arm. "Chloe, time to wake him up." He holds her cloak out to her when she comes over.
"And no, before anybody asks, I don't intend to kill him. I like the idea Karozekas had earlier. We'll drop him off in Sandpoint, attest to his crimes, and let the authorities deal with him. Then we can sell the spoils for whatever coin we can, then we get back to finding Elyas."
After everything is loaded, Tekk walks over to the young man. He bends down, removes Chloe's cloak and lays it over his arm. "Chloe, time to wake him up." He holds her cloak out to her when she comes over.
"And no, before anybody asks, I don't intend to kill him. I like the idea Karozekas had earlier. We'll drop him off in Sandpoint, attest to his crimes, and let the authorities deal with him. Then we can sell the spoils for whatever coin we can, then we get back to finding Elyas."
Sarusa nods with Tekk's telepathic plan.
Did we ever search this fellow? I would hate for him to come to and spring a nasty surprise on us.
Karo will search Volorio, if it hasn't been done already.
Chloe takes back her cloak with a murmur of thanks before kneeling back in front of her patient, though she does wait for Karo's search to be over before beginning a prayer and restoring some of the bandit's vitality.
Karozekas removes a boiled leather breastplate, a set of lockpicks, and a slim dagger in a wrist-sheath from Volorio's person, as well as a briarwood pipe, twenty tindertwigs, and a pouch full of dried, reddish-brown leaves.
This is Flayleaf, an intoxicating drug that is usually smoked. It typically induces lethargy and odd moods in users.
When Volorio awakes and realizes that he is still in his predicament, he hunches his shoulders and will not meet any of your eyes.
Karo gathers all the items and examines the dagger and reddish brown leaves.
You should lay off the Flayleaf, not very good for you. Karo says to Volorio.
"Put it in the fire," says Sarusa, her eyes cold.
"I am happy you found the knife, Karo..." Chloe shakes her head, relieved that she wouldn't be stabbed in her sleep.
"Are... are you still hurting anywhere?" Chloe asks Volorio without malice, still kneeling. Again, her companions were righteously outraged enough to make up for her lack of condemnation, and she could leave such things to Pharasma when the man died. If the arrow is still embedded in the young man, she will move to remove it with a muttered apology for the pain it would inflict.
Tekk watches as the young man is searched, and grimaces as Chloe begins ministering to his wounds. As she finishes removing the arrow, Tekk kneels down in front of the man, "Listen, we're going on a ride. If you want to stay awake, behave yourself. I gave the lass my word I won't kill you, and I mean to keep it. But I'll not take a chance on you either - so if you try anything I don't like, I'll beat you so long, and so hard, you won't wake up for a week. I hope we understand each other."
With that, the half-orc stands up moves to the small house, and begins moving the bodies into the cellar. Grabbing several handfuls of hay from the barn, he places them below the bodies for additional fuel. Finishing that, he takes the flayleaf and dumps it in as well. After emptying his flasks of oil liberally throughout the cellar, he climbs up and stands over the trapdoor.
Looking back to make sure everyone is well away from the small house, he tosses a vial of alchemist's fire into the cellar and quickly backs away.
Karo helps Tek move the bodies into the cellar. Giving him the Flayleaf to throw in.
"Really is a sad thing, such wanton violence, I can't seem to wrap my mind around it." Karo says, looking a little bewildered and melancholy.
Volorio returns Chole's kind ministrations with sullen silence, especially after Tekkis throws his flayleaf into the fire. However, he offers no resistance and complies with instructions.
Soon enough, thick, black smoke billows out of the doors of the farmhouse, and the ruddy glow of the flames becomes a searing heat.
With all the events of the day, you almost feel as though it is time for bed, though several hours of daylight remain should you choose to make use of them. The sun's warming rays may have even improved the conditions of the road since you have been in this place.
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Corbyn doesn't bother with the fire or moving bodies. Rather, he focuses all his time and energy on getting the two strongest horses from the barn harnessed to the wagon, and getting the wagon unstuck from the road. Once thats done he loads up several days worth of feed for the animals into the wagon.
Once that is complete he approaches everyone:
"I have the two largest horses hooked to the wagon and plod ready to go. If somebody would like to claim a horse of their own I can have it saddled up in no time, otherwise we can all ride in the wagon. I'll release whatever Horses and Mules that are left into the pasture before we go. When the smoke attracts visitors, they'll take care of them. We should be on the move soon though before anybody finds us here."
As he prepared the wagon, Corbyn discovered that it was mostly full of fodder (20 days worth, in fact), but the bales were arranged in such a way as to leave a large, hollow storage space in the center.
You know, I've always wanted a horse, though I've never really ridden much. Could be more trouble than it is worth. Karo looks wistfully at the horses as he says this.
Sarusa peers at the space.
Sarusa spies a few very old blood stains on the interior bales.
During the blaze, Chloe changes her focus to prayer, lifting a hymn to the air to guide all the souls present to their appropriate rest, just in case there were still lingerers about.
Once this is done, Chloe prepares to continue on, despite her fatigue, which she is certain is felt by every member of her party. She asks a horse she believes to be a party member if there's anything she can do to help them get a move-on.
"Old blood." Sarusa is grim. "Something or someone was killed here, or stored here while bleeding, possibly to death. Gods, I dislike this place."
She pokes around at the bales for anything else.
The search turns up nothing more. Volorio is morose; the sun continues its intractable march toward the western horizon.
"Let's travel a few miles--I have no wish to camp near burning corpses."
Morin is ill-suited to moving the bodies of large, dead humans, but he helps where he can and assists in bringing in hay and kindling to get the fire burning well. Looking at the collection of livestock they’ve acquired, he says ”I think Dodi’ll continue to suit me fine, and I hope you’ll still ride her with me, Clo. I think we’d do well to bring the other horses with us though – we’ll be in Sandpoint soon enough, and we can sell ‘em there. Or perhaps we’ll find someone along the road in need of one – I’d like to thing we can turn a bit of the bad of this place around by a kind act or two, and givin’ a horse to a needy fella might be a step that way. And being kept animals, they might not do so well on their own.”
Morin looks a while at and says quietly to his friends, ”I wouldn’t wish such an end on a soul, but at least it’s better than whatever was planned for ‘em.”
With that he turns to Volorio and asks, ”So, when was yon fella from the city due to come and collect from yer uncle? I’d like to know a bit more about that man and his business, and telling us is like to make things go a lot easier on you, laddy. Perhaps you can undo some of the evil you’ve been through with a decent turn.”
"I wouldn't mind leaving the horses here, except for the thought that the buyers of the bodies would be the ones to find them. Giving them such gifts would sit ill with me. For that reason, I also think we should take them with us."
"Yes, Saruas, perhaps another few hours before settling in for the night."
Seeing Morin talking to the man, Tekk decides that his best course of action is to remain silent.
I think I have to agree with Tek, besides we still have a ways until Sandpoint, who knows what we may encounter. Never hurts to have more than needed. We can always turn the animals out along the way.
Chloe hums her consent to Morin's request to continue to ride Dodi as they have been before trying to find the horse in question. She wished to help Morin, but she doubted that the young man was in any state to speak for a while, though the halfling came off as more silver-tongued than usual.
As the pillar of smoke from the farmhouse rises to the sky, your group continues its journey along the drying road. Corbyn's choice of the heavy horses to pull the wagon seems especially well advised, as the tireless coursers are able to pull the wagon with Corbyn, Tekkis, and the subdued Volorio as passengers through the muddy road all through the afternoon.
Sarusa and Karozekas, mounted on the lighter steeds are free to roam the fields around the road a bit if they so choose.
As the daylight wanes, your group finds another likely campsite to spend the night.