Tomas will lead his horse into the village, never looking directly at the tower, but keeping it in view from side glances.
Once they reach the edge of the village Azorius will dismount. He remains calm and goes over a long list of undead that might assail them.
Listening to the report form the scouts, Alistair sits back and looks out towards the village and then at his companions.
The last time I offered advice I was spit on...So do I give it again or keep quiet.
They hold the high ground and therefore it is safe to say that they already know we are here. Entering into a village that we are not familiar with could turn bad real quick. We might want to stick with the main roads to avoid wrong turns. I would not want to be too far away from my companions in a place like this.
He looks again out at the village and then around the surrounding terrain.
In a war torn land such as this very few people are willing to trust any strangers. Travelers or not we should be prepared for a hostile reaction from whomever we meet. Now I am not saying we go in like a bunch of murder-hobos but we should be ready for a bad situation to turn sour quickly.
He looks to the worshipers of Pharasma
If we are to meet some of the undead, I am glad we are traveling with good company.
and with that he follows after the other, letting the scouts take point.
”Aye.” Was the entirety of Thorek’s response as he followed Christian along the main road. As he was ready for trouble, he did so on foot.
Dismounting and tying up his horse near the edge of the village, Rau overhears Lord Christian's advice behind him. "Those are wise words. Listen to the man and be prepared. We will return with any information that we can find."
He draws his bow and steps into the shadow of one of the buildings as he checks his gear and prepares to enter the village.
"Tomas, let me know when you're ready."
As you get closer, your earlier suspicions prove to be correct. There is nothing alive in this village - no people, pets, rats, or even insects.
The buildings in the village all show signs of wear and neglect. It's clear that none of them have had even the most basic of repairs in several years.
Everyone also notices a pervasive stench of decay. Most of the wood in the buildings seems to be in advanced stages of decomposition. It almost appears as if everything was underwater for a time, but other signs of a flood are not apparent.
But even those observations aren't the most troubling - it takes a few moments, but it appears that all of the buildings were apparently been boarded up from the inside (in the past).
Eventually, you reach what appears to be the town center. A large well has been constructed here, and a massive oak tree stands about 15' away from the well.
"This doesn't bode well, and the sun is setting quickly so time is of the essence. See if you can figure out anything about what happened here. I'm going to scout the tower." Ignoring the tree and the buildings for now, Rau leaves the group and attempts to melt into the shadows while heading towards the tower, scanning it carefully.
As it turned out, the dwarven spirits haunting Thorek knew little about trees. He kept a wary eye out nonetheless. A greataxe appeared in his hands, a sure sign that he was treating this seriously.
"The tree has been poisoned. I wouldn't draw from that well!" Tomas warns.
As they approach the village, Volkar casts a spell, conjuring ethereal armor about himself.
Once they reach the village center, and Tomas warns them of the tree, he avoids the well. He dismounts and unlimbers his longspear, and keeps a wary eye out with the others.
He looks at the apparently drowned houses, and wonders if some kind of magic could have done this.
Azorius resisted the urge to expend the blessings of Pharasma too soon. Likely there would be trouble here but to squander her aid would be foolish.
Sometimes the presence of powerful mystical creatures twisted their environments and this included some undead. He considered if the strange phenomenon in the area might indicate a particular undead.
You also note that the decaying smell is much worse close to the well.
Volkar, you don't know of any magic that could directly cause what you're seeing. Perhaps something magical is happening, but you don't know of any spells that would have these results.
Staying in the shadows, Rau hurries back to the group. "Hey! There's someone coming from the tower straight towards us. It should hit the village shortly and I think it might be coming to the well as it carries a bucket. We've got to either prepare ourselves or hide. Which is it?" He heads to the side of the square farthest away from the tower and readies his bow, prepared to either cover his friends or hide with them depending on their decision.
”The chance of me hiding is slim. I’ll wait here and say ‘ello. Ye lot hide. If yon stranger is hostile then help me. If not I talk. Easy ‘nuff.”
I agree and I will join Thorek. If things go bad...well you will know what to do.
"I'm not hiding unless we all hide. I'll keep you covered in case something goes badly."
Ok. Don't be too brave though. If he looks like something needing to be put down lets get the first shots in."
Having agreed Tomas moves to where he can watch while remaining out of sight.
"It's not something I'm equipped for. Standing our ground seems to be something I should engage in with you. I've seen nothing so far that indicates any undead I am familiar with... yet."
Volkar says, "I'll take cover, as well. I learned quite a bit about hiding when I was a refugee from the country."
Volkar moves off with Tomas so he can watch, ready to use his ability to conjure ectoplasm to entangle their foe if he proves hostile.
Well it looks like we are decided then. Whenever everyone is ready...
"Whoever it is should be here any minute. I'll remain in sight so that they are aware you have support." Rau keeps his bow at the ready but not aimed, so as to provide a show of strength without being threatening.
Keryn decides to hide, too, as close to Thorek as he can. He watches, and waits.
With Rau's warning, you all move into position well ahead of the man's appearance. Heavy footsteps precede him, but before he comes into sight, you hear him stop, pause, then open a door with a grunt.
Moments later, you hear the clear sound of casting.
As the sound of casting starts, Rau listens carefully
and creeps over to the group by the well.
"He's casting create water. My guess is he either doesn't trust the well water or he has something to do with it being corrupted."
"If he could just cast it why would he move out here. He could cast it in his tower. Let us wait and see to discover more. Even if he is corrupting thing place it would be best for us to know more about exactly what he is doing so we can reverse it."
"He was carrying a bucket. Maybe someone else is in that building that is making water for him."
Volkar wonders if, perhaps, the man had seen them and decided not to approach the well, instead using his create water spell. It was odd that he'd bother leaving the tower at all when he could just cast the cantrip.
Unless...the well had been poisoned, of that there was no doubt. What if this man had poisoned the well, but others in the tower had no idea, and he left to get water from the well each day so he could cast the cantrip in secret? If his companions were unaware of that ability, he could take pains to hide it.
Of course, Rau also may be right in that someone in the building he'd gone into was casting it for him. Looking to the others, he gestures in the direction of the building as if to ask, Should we investigate?
Rau sees Volkar's gesture and nods as if to say Yes, I think we should.
"Makes very little sense to me. Why come to a well just to summon water? How about we just go say hello? Feelin' a mite silly sittin' here watchin' someone fill up a bucket."
As there's at least a couple people in consensus, Rau heads over towards the building hoping the others will follow whether they try to sneak or not.
Volkar moves over to the building with Rau, seeing if they can investigate.
Thorek tried to follow suit.
keeping to his original place Christian waits.
It would appear that there are more than just his one person inside and are ignorant of the poison well. Maybe his family and he wishes to keep them from worrying too much. Let us just go say hello like Thorek suggested
As the three of you approach, the man breaks off his spell and comes rushing out the door. He stops and stares at you for a moment before speaking in a deep voice, "Greetings, travelers. I am Imado, devoted servant of Pharasma, and Guardian of her Sacred Well. What can I do for you?"
The man is an older human with thinning gray hair and a figure that has seen far too little physical activity in the past twenty years. His blue eyes shine brightly in the fading sunlight, and he wears the fading garments of the Church of Pharasma.
”Ach! Worried for nothing. Well met. What’s so holy about this well?”
Slightly worried Tomas moved with the others towards the unknown man.
"He's under some sort of magic contol." Tomas hisses quietly to the others as he studies the mans slightly glazed eyes.
Hearing Tomas's words, Rau stays in the shadows. I don't think he's seen me. Should let those who are better with words deal with him. He keeps a close eye on the building the man came out of, watching and listening for any other inhabitants.
Volkar listens to Tomas's whispered warning, then turns to the man with a smile and says, "Hail, and well met, Imado. As my companion asked, please tell us about Pharasma's Sacred Well. We are most curious about it."
A blighted land, a lone preacher... Huecuva perhaps? The man seemed sincere but could he be certain. He cursed himself for not preparing holy water. "Are you alone here?"
Azorius bristled as paranoia and suspicion warred within him... he knew too much about the undead, it was hard not to see every shadow and corner not harbouring their ilk sometimes. "We've traveled far, you wouldn't object to a blessing of the Lady of Graves. I am her humble servant as well." It was not phrased as a question. He lifted his shield to prominently display her spiral embossed upon it... and as a pretext to have it ready.
As the three of you approach, the man breaks off his spell and comes rushing out the door. He stops and stares at you for a moment before speaking in a deep voice, "Greetings, travelers. I am Imado, devoted servant of Pharasma, and Guardian of her Sacred Well. What can I do for you?"
The man is an older human with thinning gray hair and a figure that has seen far too little physical activity in the past twenty years. His blue eyes shine brightly in the fading sunlight, and he wears the fading garments of the Church of Pharasma.
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
You are the guardian of the well. Christian turns to look at the well and points at it. That well right there?
You are so going on KP duty for like the next decade. There is no way anyone could be that relaxed in the their sacred duty. Something is not right here.I do not know what it is about him but he seems off. Let us be cordial for now.
Master Imado, we have traveled a long distance and would like to bed down for the night. Would you be able to help us out with that as well?
Imado regards you patiently as you approach. "Yes, the very well you indicate, master dwarf. It contains the physical vessel containing one of Pharasma's most devoted and loyal servants. While here on our plane of existence, I have been called to help sustain her, for while her spiritual form never thirsts or hungers, her body on Golarion has need for both food and water."
"As for myself, I live with my daughter and a housekeeper up in the tower. Sadly, most of my friends died when the plague came through a few years ago. And I always welcome the ministrations of a fellow worshipper." he says with a grateful nod and smile
To Lord Christian, "Yes, good sirs, you may of course rest in the tower. We have plenty of space, and even a bath that is magically heated. Great for recovering after a few days on the road."
”Huh.” Thorek said thoughtfully. And with all of the tact of a brick to the face said ”Look. A corpse covered in mushrooms and several others besides. Anyone here got a way to dispel magic? Bet a copper this lad’s charmed.”
Rau grins in the shadows at Thorek's comment. Not one to mince words. Good man. He continues to watch Imado and the door to the house, ready to put an arrow in anything that becomes hostile.
Azorius casts detect magic and begins concentrating on the man before turningnhis attention elsewhere.
Volkar notices the mushroom-covered corpse. This is definitely wrong. Something is wrong here.
Just before Thorek speaks up...
Cleaning lady has the day off I see...
That is not a good sign...what is going on here?
Just after Thorek speaks up...
Christian slowly turns his head towards the dwarf...
I was just thinking that you and I should play cards some day.
His right hand reaches back to grasp the shaft the naginata lying beside him in the wagon.
Well this is about to get ugly.
”I wouldn’t if I were ye. I’ve got a face of stone.”
He didn’t have a poker face of stone
Imado shakes his head slowly, "Ah yes, a terrible business, that. We had plague come through a few years back. Spread fast, fatal in only a few days. A few of us were immune, but we couldn't stop it. By the time we heard back from priests who could help, it was too late. Almost the entire town has died."
"Their bodies lie where they died. I would have buried or burned them, but Sacha - the angel of Pharasma - said that wasn't necessary. Better to leave their physical remains alone, and tend to their spirits. I spend most of my time praying to The Lady of Graves to take care of my neighbors."
He gestures toward the corpse covered with mushrooms, "That was Wharren Cooper," and then to the rest of the bodies, "and the rest of his family."
"See, the plague prevents the body from decomposing, so these buckets of water, and even those mushrooms, help the bodies break down. Someday, Pharasma willing, we can have new people move here, and we can see the town grow again."
Sickened by what he sees as a travesty of Pharasma's teachings, Rau steps out of the shadows and addresses the man, slipping easily back into his role as an Inquisitor. "It's not Pharasma's desire to leave remains where they lie, she cares about the proper care of bodies. It's also Her place to take care of the spirits, not the role of mortals. I would like to speak with this Sacha you mention. Where can we find them?" This smacks of the undead, and I don't know anything of this Sacha. Could whatever it is be manipulating this man or is he a knowing follower?
While waiting for a response, Rau mentally goes back through all of his studies to see if he has heard anything similar to this situation in the past.