The band takes some time to catch their breath and patch up Calem.
Calem will check the bodies, and see if he can get others to help him look through the house and barn. There might be some clue to who these people were, and if anything, they could set a funeral fire for them before they leave. While he isn't looking for valuables specifically, he won't turn it down.
In the farmhouse the Band finds the bodies of three women in addition to the small boy on the porch. And Calem manages to stumble upon a hidden belt pouch containing 13 silver pieces.
The doors look to have been broken in by forceful blows. The floors and earth are sticky with blood. Moreover, on the wall inside the main room of the farmhouse, there is writing in the blood of the slain. It is just one word in elvish script: “Mythal”.
Outside the farmhouse, they find another 6 dead, bringing the total so far to 10.
Shianni moves to the word written in blod and begins cleaning it off, while mumbling "This can't be here. Why is this here?"
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As he pockets the coins, Calem will walk up. "What can't be here?" he asks. Looking at the word, he whistles. "That's... intimidating. Anyone know what this means, other than wolves didn't do this?"
"It is the name of one of our gods, the Creator of Vengeance and He Who Slew His Father."
"The only ones who would know of the Evanuris would be Elvhen."
With a new sense of dread the band continues on to the Barn. There they discover that most of the farm’s livestock is still alive, including an aging workhorse and a couple of cows. While they are looking around, they hear a low moan coming from the hayloft.
Calem will look to the group, nod, and cautiously take whatever ladder there is up to the loft.
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Calem will look to the group, nod, and cautiously take whatever ladder there is up to the loft.
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Calem creeps up the stairs with a surprising deftness. He finds that hidden under the hay in the loft is a young elf woman. She is in a bad way: with a nasty, inflamed wound in her side, her clothes torn and covered in blood, dirt, and stray bits of hay and straw.
She is flushed, shaking, and clearly exhausted. And she has yet to notice Calem.
Calem ensures he has steady footing, and hold out a hand to where the party can see to indicate one person.
Creeping forward, he keeps his sword sheathed. He does, however, keep alert for traps.
"That looks bad." he says softly, trying not to startle her. "We arent here to hurt you. My friend can help you."
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The woman gasps and tries to escape, but can only manage a feeble crawl before she passes out.
"Shianni!" Calem shouts.
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Shianni will rush over to the woman and heal her wounds.
Athros quickens his pace to follow. Noticing the enflamed wound he speaks, "Those wolves were tainted." He is quiet for a few moments. "What if she is tainted?" he asks plainly. "You rush in and act without thought."
"... Yeah. I guess I do." Calem agrees. "Not much for thinking, really. I guess I'm too simple for loftier things."
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"I help wherever I can."
Athros lets out a sigh and his face relaxes to a more empathetic look. He bends down to inspect the woman's wounds.
"My apologies for being harsh. If we heal this woman and she has been tainted, then she will only live but a little longer and that living will be in agony."
Once the heal spell is cast on her, the woman visibly relaxes but remains unconscious.
When Athros examines her, he can see that her wound is a set of four closely-spaced gashes along her side, apparently made by some sort of claws. Her wound is consistent with those suffered by many of the farmers; it seems the same creatures attacked her.
If she is tainted, he cannot tell.
Her clothing shows that she is a Dalish elf. She carries no means of identification or anything of value save for a small leather pouch at her waist that holds a heavy link, forged out of silver, about the size of a man’s hand. It has been broken and twisted by some great force.
Shianni will again heal the young woman.
Even with the additional healing magic, the woman doesn't stir.
"We should move on to Vintiver." Calem says. "Take the girl. She'll be able to answer questions when she wakes up. I hope."
"Agreed."
"She is out of danger, but we need to move her to someplace where she can rest. Given the situation, I think we should probably move her to the house. A good bed would help her, I think."
The band puts together a makeshift palette using some blankets and some spare lumber that was lying around. They place the woman on it and very carefully lead her outside the barn.
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The band takes the woman back into the house, doing their best to ignore the dead bodies of women and children. They lay the woman down in a bed.
**
An hour passes and the woman still hasn't stirred. But the band can hear sound coming from outside of the farmhouse.
"I'll go check it out. Cover me." Calem offers.
He will go to the nearest window first to check.
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Shianni will move to an upstairs window to look out.
Zira will follow Shianni to provide backup and also make use of night advantage
"Ill be your support Shianni" she smiles broadly
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Athros sneaks to a window for a peek outside.
The band sees a man outside carrying a pitchfork like a makeshift weapon. He is a little overweight, balding, with a patchy beard. And his fingers grip the pitchfork awkwardly.
"Miren! Hann! Brella! By the Maker, is anyone alive!" he calls out.
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Changing her mind, Shianni goes downstairs, grabbing an nearby cloth, and then cleans off the blood markings on the wall.
Athros stows his bow and finds a place to hide.
Shrugging, Zira leans out the window
"Hello! Hello! Careful. Blight wolves prowl this area! Who are you?"
She tries to sound friendly and inviting. At least her companions were covering the newcomer
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"I'm from Vintiver. And you're not Miren!" he calls out with a tremor in his voice. He starts to back away, clearly debating simply running away.
Calem will put his sword and shield down and walk out the front unarmed. "There were blightwolves ravaging this place. We killed a bunch of them. There was an elf, but she's hurt and we don't know who she is or what happened here. Could you help us please?"
"Easy there. Come on in. We are friends here to help. Safer inside than out!" she tries her best to ease them man to join them inside
"W e have an even lady inside that is currently recovering from the wolf attack"
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"An elf? What, one of those Dalish bastards? Look you don't belong here, you should come with me to see Warden Dale."
"I do not think going with him will end well." says Shianni to herself.
Athros pokes his head from a closet. "It might be best if you were to hide as well Shianni. There is no love for elvhen among humans."
"Really? They seemed to be treated pretty well from what I saw of the Elven town in Kirkwall, but I will trust you on this."
"Oh come on!" she exclaims
"Are you going to stay out there and be food for the wolves too?"
She was really getting tired of his stubbornness
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The man is unconvinced. Instead he turns around and flees.