Keydas holds out a hand and says, "Wait. In case this is a trap. Let me approach first."
Keydas will motion for Ladruca to remain where he is with Kendra before approaching the man and saying, "Pardon, friend, but are you alright?"
Upon seeing the dog Filiana gasps in horror.
Oh no! The poor thing. Who would do such a terrible thing?
Stepping up close to the dog, she looks closely at it.
Nostro stares on, absorbing every detail from the scene that he can before approaching further. Gaze falling to the dog, he discerns what he can from the corpse and his eyes begin to cloud with an ethereal haze.
Grizzly stuff. Why the letter V? "Both of you. When did you arrive? What is the meaning of this?"
Gregor, roll me a d20, and a d8 please.
Keydas, as you approach to offer assistance, a strange, fetid small reaches you. However, just as you realize what it is, the zombie lunges out towards you, Striking you solidly in your chest. You feel the wind get knocked out of you. This one seems stronger than the ones you fought the other day.
Ladruca and Keydas up.
As Nostro questions the two townspeople Filiana goes to check the dog. She finds its throat has been slit, likely providing no resistance at all. Was probably a pet. The two townsfolk turn to look at each other, both seem unsure. After a few moments, one speaks up.
We just got here. We were looking for our boys dog, its been with us for years... I suppose we found it... he looks saddened, then, a look of anger takes over his face.
Now, why would this happen the day after you and your necromancer ilk arrive?!
As the man starts to get an accusatory tone his voice, a small lad of about 10-12 tumbles through the brush. He sees the dog.
Tuft! Comon Tuft lets go play! He runs towards the dog, dodges the arms of the adults. When he gets closer he slows to a stop.
Tuft? His voice is quiet as he starts too look around finally taking in the scene.
Ladruca is standing beside Kendra, his hand near his morningstar in case there is a threat as Keydas had suggested.
''Kendra do you know this man? Is that why you went down the alle-''
Ladruca's eyes go wide and he stops speaking abrubtly as he watches Keydas get struck in the chest.
S#*!! I shouldn't have let him approach alone.
Ladruca rushes forward, drawing his morningstar as he goes. Coming to a stop in front of the zombie and Keydas. Muttering the words to a spell, the smell of the zombie rushing into his nostrils he attempts to keep his focus as he casts.
Steeling his nerves, Ladruca feels the energy flowing into his hand, which glow purple. He presses it into the zombies chest, fending off its grabbing hands with his morningstar. The skin chars and sizzles as the positive energy flows into the monster.
''Kendra stay back! Keydas are you alright?!?''
Keydas catches the scent and curses as the zombie slams into him. Staggering back, he allows Ladruca to attack the zombie, saying, "I'm a bit bruised, but hopefully I'll be okay."
Keydas takes a step back, considering. If I get it on the ground, that might give us an advantage.
He speaks words of magic, and then a pool of grease appears beneath the zombie.
Ignoring the man's tone, Nostro stands motionless as the boy absorbs the gruesome scene that Tuft was forced to be in. He is too young to be forced to experience such a monstrosity. "As an agent of the Inheritor, I swear to you that I will do all within my power to discover who did this. They will receive the justice they deserve." He says darkly, hand gripping the hilt of his sword. There will be a day where Ustalav will no longer be the prey for darker entities... this I promise you, boy.
There are bound to be tracks nearby. There must be clues here. Dogs don't just appear with throats slit and words don't write themselves. THERE MUST BE SOMETHING HERE.
When the townsman voices his sudden accusation, Filiana looks first shocked and then a little scared.
No..no..no... it's happening again ... they get scared, they get angry. Then it's jumping to conclusions and then, and then ... stop! Just stop it! It doesn't have to be that way again. You are with people who understand and accept now... And you don't have to just let this happen, let them make their mad ideas and somehow make them true. Speak up...
She looks at the townsman, the fear on her face falling away and replaced with resolve.
You're right of course. There is a reason that this happened the day after we arrived. Do you know what that is? It's because the gods love you. You and all of this town. That's why they sent a Knight of Iomedae here. As well as others who have made it their life's work to study the destruction of evil. We're here because the gods want whatever evil is behind this... this travesty, stopped.
The strange sight at the fountain caught Viktor's attention and as he drew close, his brow furrowed even deeper. A macabre scene was spread across the fountain; the dead dog and the bloody letters left along the surface of it. It was a strange sight indeed and as Nostro began to question the others, he studied the scene for anything out of the ordinary around him.
Turning back, he listens as the man's tone begins to grow harsh, accusatory. He sighed to himself, shaking his head as the boy slipped through the arms of his parents and gazed upon the terrible scene. Viktor's lips pressed together tightly as he lifted the dog up off of the ground with the greatest of reverence.
Filiana's words were surprising and sounded so unlike the girl from yesterday who seemed shaken and unsure. He would've smiled if the situation was not so grim.
"I am sorry for your loss. If I was to lose Gunnar...I wouldn't know what to do." He offers the dog's body to the man he believes to be the father, meeting the man's stare.
"We mean you no harm, the man you speak of has taken solemn vows under the Lady of Graves, the same that your priest has taken. We only wish to help, to stop tragedies like this from occurring." Viktor looks down sadly at the young man, nodding resolutely with the Nostro's oath.
[b]"I am no paladin, just a talented guardsman taught a few tricks here and there. We will find out what is happening here in Ravengro, I promise you that. We just...we need you to trust us, even just the slightest bit."
Viktor and Filiana comfort the boy who is kneeling beside his dog, tears streaming down his eyes.
The man backs down at the words of Viktor and Filiana as well, and just stares at the boy.
You do manage to find some tracks around the edge of the clearing with the memorial statue. Do you follow them?
--
kedays and ladruca
he slips and slides right across your grease Lunging for Ladruca.
The zombie seems to use the slip of the grease to gain momentum and slams into ladruca.
Kendra gives a slight yelp before focusing.
Keydas, you feel a rejuvenating effect flow into you. Kendra knowing enough about ladruca not to heal him.
Ladruca has taken 9 damage, Keydas 5 total.
Gregor, add cause fear to your spell book if you don't already have it. You also notice the book contains some spells on top of its zealous description of the deities domains and expectations. Its honestly a lot more interesting than you thought.
Annoyed that his spell had failed to trip the zombie, Keydas thinks I should invest in a longsword or sickle or something more effective to fight these things. As Kendra's healing flows over him, he says, "Thank you, my dear. Hopefully we'll be able to take care of this thing quickly."
Keydas then draws his dagger and says, "Now, Ladruca, if you'll remember what I was saying about zombies last night, they are quite slow, but hit hard. It is most effective to hit one with a cutting weapon such as a sword or an axe, but healing magic such as you used just now is a most effective option as well. Now, let us quickly slay this creature, before it causes a panic."
Ladruca stumbles back a half-step, nearly bowled over by the force of the zombie's rotting flesh striking his own. He manages to regain his footing.
Pharasma's Blood! Why did it have to be another zombie and why did it have to attack before I could buy a damn cutting weapon?!?
Clasping his free hand to his chest he begins a small chant.
''In the name of Pharasma, fill this vessel with your light, that he may stay in the fight!''
Ladruca breathes a sight of relief as his bruises start fading a little and he breathes a little easier.
Hate to waste that on a simple zombie, but necessity demands it.
Beginning a familiar chant he mutters the words to another healing spell,his holy symbol glows and then the purple light covers his hand once more.
There is a sinister hissing sound and when the spell is done there is a full hand print, burned black into the zombie's flesh. LAdruca gives a grim smile of satisfaction when he sees this.
Take that cursed undead! Still this zombie is considering harder hitting then yesterday. Could it have been raised by a stronger necromancer or is there something special about it?
|
Gregor pours over the dangerous tome his eyes gleaming over the spell found within it's pages. He sets aside the book as he begins to inscribe the spell into his own spellbook
He then takes a deep breathe and utters a minor spell to aid him in his study.
And begins to carefully delve into the pages of the tome. "What secrets to you hold..." He mumbles to himself as he pours over the book, a thin smile creeping onto his face.
Filiana is standing next to the crying boy with her hand on his shoulder when the tracks are discovered. She walks over to the townsman first and says quietly Perhaps you should go and comfort your son...
Then she moves over to the tracks and examines them.
V? I wonder what the V stands for? Must try and remember to ask Keydas about it when we see him.
Viktor watches as the fight leaves the man's face, instead watching the young boy who sobs quietly. Gunnar sits quietly nearby, watching patiently everything that is happening but Viktor can feel it. There is that excitement, that anger. The familiar looks forward to finding who harmed the dog and crushing them. Leaving the man with his child and deceased pet, the tall warrior moves over to the tracks that they had discovered.
"We're fortunate. The rains have made the ground soft, this will be easier to track." He was no hunter and certainly no ranger but Viktor had his own experiences of hunting game in the dark forests near his home.
Ladruca, you suspect that the zombie is stronger because whatever created it may be focusing more power into it. Instead of attempting to raise multiple. Or, it could have just been a stronger than normal creature in life. It seems to shrug off some of your magic but is still fairly hurt.
Kendra, slightly startled at her ability, attempts to do the same again. This time she wills the energy against the undead creature however it seems weaker.
The zombie looks fairly damaged, but it is still up and going.
Nostro and Co.
You manage to follow the tracks down to an old rickety shack of about two rooms. Theres a firewood rack that is mostly filled in the back. However no one is home at the moment.
Gregor, make me another spellcraft check.
Keydas says, "Very good, Ladruca. If we remember our lessons, we most certainly can overcome this. Now, let's see if we can end this thing."
Keydas steps up next to Ladruca and slashes at the zombie with his dagger.
Unfortunately, his attack misses the target. He really isn't very good at this fighting thing.
Seeing the shack, Nostro halts the group. "The tracks lead there. Wait a moment." His eyes grow hazy as he sweeps the area with his deathwatch and relays what he finds to the group.
"Be on your guard. Either of you know this place?" he says as he warily approaches. A decrepit shack is better than a cave, but still not comforting if the owner exsanguinates dogs. I will bring them to justice.
When Nostro stops the group Filiana watches him for a moment.
I wonder if I can help from here. Let's see if that detecting spell can help at all...
I'm afraid I know nothing of this place. But maybe I can find something out.
She closes her eyes for a moment while muttering something quietly under her breath. When she opens her eyes again they are glowing with a pale white light.
After a minute the glow fades and she closes her eyes again.
Seeing that Keydas is not having an easy time striking the zombie with his weapon, Ladruca throws himself into a rolling somersault, attempting to roll past the zombies hands.
He comes up standing with the zombie between him and Keydas putting them in flanking positions. However he failed to execute his roll effectively and the zombie got a chance to swing at him as he passed.
Raising his morning star he swings it with both hands towards the zombie's head.
The morning star comes swinging down and glances off the zombie's head, doing minimal damage.
Viktor quietly follows along with the group, eyeing the area around them carefully now. Was this another member of the Whispering Way and what were they trying to accomplish? He shook his head, accepting that he currently did not have enough information to truly ascertain the reasoning behind it all. Perhaps once they found the suspect, they'd be able to get more information about what it was they were attempting to do.
He waited when the others asked him to stop, looking at the rickety shack that laid upon the grounds in front of them. "I do not know much of this place or who might be living here. It looks, perhaps, to be the house of one of the common folk." He carefully follows behind Nostro, staying close to Filiana's side while the goat takes up the rear quietly. He looks down towards Filiana, nodding softly. "Did either of you see anything strange with your sights?" He knew what it was that Filiana was doing, having learned that those gifted in arcane power were able to detect the use of it. The paladin, however, was an unknown. How or what he did, Viktor had no clue of.
Keydas and Ladruca.
Ladruca attempts to move behind the creature, allowing it to get a painful strike on the side of his ribs. However its next attack is thrown off due to slipping a bit in the grease.
Kendra moves up behind Keydas,she lifts her arm and a yellow ray of radiant energy strikes out towards the zombie.
it strikes the creature in the head, disintegrating it immediately, the rest falls to the ground and slowly begins to turn to dust.
Kendra turns to you with a nod. Thank you, I had merely wanted to help him. I didn't know him, merely extending a helping hand...
Nostro, Viktor, Filiana
Nostro, you don't notice any creatures in the area, save maybe a rat or squirrel. However after a close inspection of the building, you do find a war razor, and a bloodstained waterskin hidden fairly well under a pile of the firewood.
Filiana you don't detect any magic in the area.
As the spell fades away Filiana muses over what just happened.
Very interesting. So, I think that only shows me magic. I guess I won't know if it shows up undead unless I can test it when I know there is one nearby. But I'm pretty sure it does magic. I can sense small amounts on both Nostro and Viktor, those potions hanging at Viktor's belt for example. And I know the glow around Nostro is that Knight Magic that I just saw him do. Oh and there's that fine little glowing cord that connects Viktor and Gunnar. Nothing in the house though.
Then with a sigh, she opens her eyes again. The white light has faded from them, leaving them their normal soft blue color once again.
I sensed nothing from the house. I'm not completely sure of the limitations of what I can do as yet, but I am fairly sure there is no magic in the house.
Upon following Nostro in for a closer inspection and seeing the war razor and waterskin, she looks away, shuddering for a moment.
Come on now Fi. You can't go being all weak every time you see something a bit horrid. What will they all think? They'll think you're just a burden - you don't want that do you?
Forcing herself to look back at the discoveries, she says ...
Well, that's pretty horrible. I suppose it's possible that those things being here doesn't necessarily mean that the person who lives here killed that poor boy's dog. But why would anyone other than the person who lives here go to so much trouble to hide them? It seems we need to find out who lives here.
"Naught but wildlife are nearby," Nostro says as he waves the group forward. When their search reveals evidence of the dark deed, he stops in his tracks. This is all we need to prove guilt.
"There aren't tracks indicating he was framed. This was the owners work. I will search the house.
Shaking off the encounter, Keydas says, "That may be the reason this ruse was chosen - knowing that you would stop to offer a helping hand - if this was indeed targeted at you. We fought several other creatures like this last night. It's why we were in such a disheveled state. Still, the fact such a creature is here in town, in broad daylight..." Keydas pauses, thinking for a moment.
"Ladruca, I've reconsidered my stance on not telling the mayor. If whoever is creating these creatures is bold enough to send them into town in broad daylight, he must be warned so that the Sheriff can take appropriate action. We should speak to him immediately. Kendra, can your shopping wait?"
Ladruca raises back to fell height from his crouch and puts his morning star away. He examines his wounds for a moment and notes they are pretty serious.
Damn that bit of acrobatics was not a good idea.Only one spell left too. Better save it just in case.
He nods at Keydas' words.
''Yes I think so as well. Let us make haste now. Kendra we will both escort you back to the market when the meeting with the mayor is done.''
Better make sure we get slashing weapons as well and Nostro needs something to smash skeletons if memory serves.
''Keydas, after we are done escorting Kendra I will be needing to see the smith about getting some kind of cutting weapon. I would like a partner if you don't mind. My wounds are pretty serious.''
He then starts to head out the alley towards the mayor's office.
"Agreed, Ladruca. I could use a cutting weapon myself that is more effective than a dagger."
Viktor's frown seemed to deepen as they discovered the war razor and the bloodied waterskin hidden within the wood pile. The killer had taken steps to hide himself and his actions, that much was certainly true. Viktor was still pondering the why, it had to be tied to the dark events surrounding the prison in some way.
"I will keep watch outside, Gunnar will be with me as well. Be careful." Last thing he wanted was for them to be caught completely off guard or be accused of breaking and entering. A lookout would be a necessity.
Nostro, The shack is a fair ways off from town in the direction of the prison. It looks like someone is living here. Its likely a farmers residence or the sort. Your search doesn't find much other than common household items.
Suddenly remembering that the town does not in fact have a mayor, Ladruca smacks himself in the forehead.
Those zombies must have done some damage below the surface to make such a blunder
''Keydas,in light of the lack of a mayor whom do you think we should turn to first? The sheriff seems ideal as he is in charge of security but what if one of the others is more level-headed? My vote goes to the sheriff but perhaps you have other ideas?What do you think Kendra?''
He begins heading in the general direction of the town hall.
Filiana stands in the shack with Nostro, watching as he searches.
This is... so ... like my home... so very like it... I... I miss it. I miss them ... even if they... perhaps I should just give this up as folly and go home.
After a brief while she seems to become a bit distressed....
Oh, but I can't stand it in here anymore. I'm sorry Sir Nostro, I have to get out of here. I will wait outside with Viktor.
She retreats outside, looking slightly flustered.
"Well, we've met Hearthmount, which gives us at least some familiarity, but the Sheriff may be better suited to inform given the nature of this threat. Perhaps we should see if Hearthmount is at the town hall, and ask for an introduction to the Sheriff. Then we can tell both of them at the same time."
This lack of a mayor is quite frustrating - and seriously, a 4-person council? What do they do when they deadlock on a vote? Flip a coin? It is a most inconvenient and silly form of government. If you aren't going to have a mayor, at least make the council an odd number to prevent ties. A mayor would at least be able to cast a vote in the event of a tie, even if the position was otherwise ceremonial.
''Very well, let us be off to the townhall and see Hearthmount. Shall we tell him about the undead or tell only sheriff?''
"Preferably both at the same time. That would be the most convenient."
Nostro watches Filiana leave out of the corner of his eye without a word, still continuing his search through the dingy shack. Probably doesn't have the stomach for this. She seems to have lived a sheltered life. Everyone eventually learns there is darkness all everywhere. The earlier the better. Alone in the house, he mutters to himself, "I'm no Sir. One day I'll be an Officer perhaps, but not yet..."
His search not turning up anything useful, he will make his way back outside. "We should confront the owner on their return. This heinous crime cannot go unpunished." They did seem particularly concerned with keeping everything in house though... "An alternative is to send for the sheriff. We should not abandon our post here though."
Viktor would be waiting outside when the halfling joined him, distressed and she could see the look of concern appear upon his face. He went to speak to her but Nostro would emerge from the shack soon afterwards. The evidence here was damning and there was more than enough information to arrest whoever was involved in that poor boy's dog's murder. Nodding slightly, he would look between the others before standing up a little bit straighter.
"Gunnar and I will stay here, in case the owner returns. We also have the best weapon to put him down without killing him." He'd gesture to the heavy mace along his side and a smile would spread across his face. "I'll stay here and keep watch. Very little tends to get past our eyes and the day is not darkening yet. We'll be fine, go and fetch the sheriff and I'll make sure the evidence is not disturbed."
Filiana looks relieved to have something to do that doesn't involve waiting by the shack.
Praise the gods, yes! That is a fine idea. Nothing would make me happier than being away from this place. But, then ...
Are you sure Viktor? Are you sure Sir Nostro shouldn't wait here with you. After all, the person who did this is obviously both mad and violent. I should be safe enough walking through the town in the middle of the day. I could go and get the Sheriff.
Viktor would give a short nod, chuckling as Gunnar gave a complaint towards him. "Gunnar and I have held many watches before at much later a time. Please, go ahead and get the authorities."
Viktor looked down into Gunnar's stubborn, irritated face and grinned slightly. "I know, my friend. Here I thought we were going to be done with guard duty..."
Filiana smiles a brief smile before nodding in agreement with Viktor.
I know it should be safe, but really, I am pleased not to be going on my own.
With that, she waits for Nostro to be ready to go and then they set out for the Sheriff's office.
"As you wish," giving Viktor a short nod in response to claiming guard duty. "Filiana and I shall retrieve the sheriff. Viktor. Pride is not worth dying for." Seeing his travel companion waiting for him, he turns to follow her in determined silence.
Kendra thanks you two and goes to the general store, the townhall is close by if you wished to head that way. If you do, you find the door opens into a very small waiting room of sorts with an attendant seemingly copying something down.
Nostro and Filiana go to find the sheriff, who they find at the local jailhouse getting ready to make a round. He gives Nostro a look and raises an eyebrow. What do you folk want?
Keydas enters the town hall and approaches the attendant with a smile. "Good day to you. I was wondering if Councilman Hearthmount might be in. I should like to speak with him if so. My name is Keydas Amrath, we met yesterday."
Ladruca Stands close by and nods politely to greet the attendant.
''My name is Ladruca Nightwing. We are hoping to speak to him about an urgent matter.''
Not knowing the attendant Ladruca keeps his scarf and glasses on.
As Filiana and Nostro make their way into the town in search of the Sheriff, Filiana starts to find Nostro's silence a bit oppressive.
He's so quiet. Why is he so quiet. Is he cross? Perhaps he is... but why? Mind you, what we've seen today would make anyone cross... but ... but ... is it me? Is he cross at me? Why would he be? Perhaps... perhaps he is cross about me running out of the hut back there. He does seem to have been quieter since then... Oh dear.
I'm sorry she suddenly blurts out... I'm sorry about, about .. back there. Back at that hut. I didn't mean to, but that hut, it was so like my home. I come from a farming family, back in Varno. Our home is a bit bigger than that hut, but so, so similar in many ways. It was so familiar, and yet to have it... tainted ... with what this mad person has done. I, umm... I may not ... may not ever be able to go back to my home, so the memory of it is all I have. To have it ... touched by this...thing, is just a bit ... a bit ... horrifying.
She falls back into silence alongside Nostro for the rest of the brief walk in to town.
Filiana's ramblings cause him to become very uncomfortable, his gait tensing up in response. He doesn't immediately respond. She is so... open. We are not friends, I've only known her for little more than a day. How can she trust one such as me with her vulnerabilities? My body is the manifestation of sin, does she not know that my faith is the only thing keeping me from becoming no better than the abominations we fought last night? She has much to learn. "You are still soft. Unfortunately, Ustalav will harden you. This month will have many more surprises. Prepare yourself. Ask for help when you need it." That should suffice. His walk takes on an almost smug rhythm.
I suppose word of a tiefling serving the divine hasn't gotten around yet. Maybe this town isn't as backwards as I gave it credit for. "Sheriff. We have found damning evidence regarding the murder and exsanguination of a local's dog. Tuft. Do you wish to see it?"
Filiana walks along in shocked silence behind Nostro after his outburst... after a minute or so she gives out a small cough, followed by a snort... at first it seems as if she is starting to cry, but then suddenly she bursts out laughing. And not a little giggle either, a full on belly laugh... After a good long while it calms down enough for her to regain control and she muffles it down. As the laughter sighs to an end she smiles and says...
Ah, Sir Nostro ... thank you... I so needed that. You are right of course, I am soft. But where you are wrong is in forgetting that we are all soft, even you ... and compared to Ustalav, we are will always be soft. No matter how hard you make yourself, you will always be soft. As my Pa often says, we are all weak in this world, but the answer to weakness isn't to become strong, because you can never be strong enough. The answer to weakness is friends. Trying to be strong and cope on your own is the very height of folly. Thank you for reminding me of that.
The laughter strikes him like a hammer, flinching at the sudden outburst of noise from the tiny woman. By the divine, she is more naive than I thought. I don't even know where to start. I will do my best to protect her until the time comes where she sees the harsh truth. Iomedae grant me the strength to teach her before it is too late. "Filiana. I disagree with some of your points. Our discussion will have to wait. We have arrived at the jailhouse." He punctuates the end of his sentence with a strong push into the structures door.