Camil shrugs, and hearing Zherxikas declare the value of the painting, immediately crosses to the painting, inspects it, and finding nothing amiss, lifts it from the wall to bring out of there with them, Some coin better than nothing from this gods-forsaken place. We're going to Magnimar anyway right?
The books are mostly on tribal cultures and history (most of it local and relating to the Shoanti tribes; +2 Knowledge Local checks regarding this subject), along with numerous maps of mysterious realms and ship charts. None of the books are particularly valuable. The scroll cases contain more maps, along with two arcane scrolls which Kizzy quickly identifies as lightning bolt and keen edge.
"I suppose if we are going to burn this place to the ground, it makes sense to save anything valuable we can. Hopefully the spirit does not remain attached to the painting. Or anything else we haul out of here I guess."
looking at the others she shrugs and asks, "We ready to set a fire and leave yet? Hey, do you think we will get in trouble for burning down the manor? Surely they will understand, right?"
I still want to save the books and libraries. Knowledge is as useful as good sword.
She pulls the scrolls out and realizing what they are holds them aloft, I have lightning bolt and keen edge scrolls- how are we dividing up such things? Zherxikas these are probably most useful in your care….
She gives Runt an impish grin and offers The fire was an unfortunate consequence of the manor’s guardians and sadly unavoidable.…not an untruthful reply.
"Well search behind the painting... it always seems paintings like this hide things."
Nods and accepts the scrolls, "Certainly of the arcane variety." He mentions to the fighters, "If you want a keen edge on your blade, let me know... it should last for like 30 minutes"
After Camil removes the painting you find nothing there. The painting and the two scrolls seem to be the sum of value in this room though the history books could be useable if you could get them all moved.
"I admit that I, too, am reluctant to simply burn down a historical library. But I have no good ideas for how to move all of these books."
"Mmmh. Are we in a hurry? It would take some time, but we have a lot of people here."
"I cannot be the only one who thinks thinks it's a terrible idea to take anything from this cursed place."
"Yea, I'm a little hesitant too. But we are taking a few other odds and ends, including the letters. Though these seem more tied to the source of the problem. Still... I don't know. Whatever."
Runt is not all that invested in the decision, obviously, being more neutrally minded when it comes to necromancy and the evil arts.
Grabs the maps that are loose as well as the scroll cases that have maps in them. "Never know if they will come in handy" He also grabs the tribal and historical books.
Runt disinterestedly grabs a couple that have nice illustrations.
Camil ponders, and sighs, What if we don't burn it down right away, and go get a wagon for the books with some horses? I know, I hate the idea too, but knowledge is power after all.
The wagon seems like a good idea.Kizzy nods in agreement with Camil's suggestion.
I understand your concerns, Forest, but if I understand the Ladies Runt and Isabella correctly, it is the house and not the things in it that hold the evil. An enemies weapon is still only a weapon, even though once wielded by a foe, in your hands it serves your will, similarly it would be a waste to sacrifice those things not tainted here, they can become our weapons and our power; just as a fallen enemies sword.
Runt hopes that is true. but even if it is not, it becomes someone else's problem when they buy the cursed thigs.
After a bit of debate the group decides that getting a wagon to loot the good stuff and then burn the old mansion to the ground is the way to go. Forest in the lead they head out the door. There seem to be a lot of birds in the area.
There is a huge number of birds. They fill the nearby trees and are roosting on the old burned down building.
You notice that many of the birds have scabs, sores, and tumors similar to the rat in the tub.
Kizzy looks up and in a calm, soothing voice, Lets return to the mansion and shelter - the birds are like the diseased rat in the tub. Kizzy does a twirl and heads back towards the door.
"Well, it seems to be spreading... it may be better to just burn the place now once we take care of the flying rodents" He shrugs, "Alas, I do not have any more great balls of fire today"
That cannot be good - should we roll the dice and see if we can break out of here? Camil looks conceredly to the others, and his own wounded state. I'd prefer not to spend another hour in this foresaken place. I have two alchemist's fires we could try and disperse the birds with?
eying the flock dubiously Runt suddenly has an opinion.
"You know, lighting the place on fire now is looking more attractive."
You have heard of such a gathering of undead crows. Often they get infected by eating on the undead before they rise or soon after they fall, sometimes they are caught up in necromantic magics which change them. Either way, the phenomenon is known as a Carrionstorm, typically consisting of hundreds of birds. The undead flocks have even been known to gain a rudimentary intelligence. Looking at the number of birds out there, you suspect there is more than one carrionstorm.
derp.
Squinting back into the light, Camil recognizes the birds, Those are carrionstorms, undead crows. Perhaps with rudimentary intelligence. Looks like a couple swarms of them. Can we magic past them? Do we have anything left? he asks the rest of the group with slight concern.
Undead are immune to death effects, disease, mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, phantasms, and patterns), paralysis, poison, sleep, stun, and any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects or is harmless).
Carrionstorms are vulnerable to positive channeled energy.
"So we can either spend the night here, or flee into the forest where we will have no protection against the swarm. Wonderful options." Forest whistles to call Sato over. He isn't going to leave the warhorse unsheltered.
"Or burn the place to the ground and hope that dispels the evil. The books are not worth all this. Right? Right?"
Sato pulls at the bush where he is tied off and moves toward the doors. He is obviously scared but obeys. As everyone starts to make room for Sato, Zherxikas' horse attempts to pull free as well. It is too late as a large swarm of crows rise up from the nearest tree and fall upon the horse. Seeing no way into the mansion it runs for its life. No less than three other groups fly out to intercept the beast. It makes it just past the old burned out building before it collapses and one of the murders settles on it to gorge.
"That's it. This place is burning."
Taking matters into her own hands she tosses an alchemists fire at the something nice and flammable in the house, preferably next all kinds of flammable goodness.
Runt, WAIT! Throw it at the crows! Isabella, can you still channel divine energy, it will hurt the swarms. Camil cries out trying to stop Runt's pyromaniacal tendencies. As he darts out to pitch his alchemist's fire at the swarms gorging on the horse.
+ splash
Pulls out a scroll and moves to a clear line of sight shouting out a warning to the group, as he prepares to unleash a cone of fire with enough get within range. "How dare you kill a horse with no name, a undemonic one at that!"
Kizzy --already INSIDE the mansion-- sees Runt planning to toss and tries to wave off the throw. Runt, NO! waving wildly... This cursed place may be our only shelter!
The horse is a good 70 feet away from the doorway so the murder is out of his immediate range. There are still numerous birds in the trees nearby however should he choose to change targets. Zherxikas' desire to avenge his horse is admirable but he quickly realizes it would be folly to move that far outside of the building to flame those eating the horse. The birds that returned to the nearby trees may be a different situation as he would only need to move about 25-30' outside the house to hit the nearest tree.
Runt hesitates for a minute, then looks like she is going to throw anyway, then hesitates again.
"Oh, all right. Blast it. I still think this is a stupid idea. Taking books from a cursed undead house. Obviously this place breeds evil, and not the tame stuff either. See those crows? We can handle them but if anyone else comes her you can bet they will be murdered and turned into some walking abomination and it will be on your hands."
Runt drops the books he was holding in his left hand right there.
"I wash mine of any responsibility. Now nobody has ever accused me of being a goody two shoed fool, but this just seems common sense."
Forest coaxes Sato indoors. The horse whickers nervously, his steel shoes sliding on the hard interior floor. "So is this one of those situations where we have to solve the haunting before the house will allow us to leave?" He asks, peering uncertainly at the circling undead flocks.
Runt looks at Forest with disbelief.
"I already told you. We solve the haunting by burning the place to the ground."
"That flock is too far away... but if you get them angry enough to come here, I can try to burn them with channeled divine power."