Malakar will hit the nearest by Goblin
Edit:
Malakar pushes the table out of his way and moves up to the final goblinoid and pummels it with his magical staff. The creature immediately crashes to the ground and does not move.
Originally, it appears that the inside of the smithy was divided into personal living quarters and an indoor work area. Blankets, weapons, tools and other debris litter the floor making it difficult to determine where one ended and the other began.
Vexas takes a moment to catch his breath, and then after peering through the window and scanning the building for remaining threats, replaces his crossbow at his belt.
The halfling plods around to the front entrance, joining Malakar inside.
I wonder how long these had been camped out here. Surely this little ragged bunch didn't run everybody proper off...
Vexas looks around at the tools and living arrangement. I don't know... live where you work. Do you ever go to work, or ever leave work? Seems like one problem or the other.
He squats down and starts scanning the various piles in the room, scratching the hairy tops of his feet like a non-halfling might scratch the top of their head.
There are still some useful tools here...
He starts throwing the items to a bare space on the floor to make a pile for others to more readily pick from.
if no one objects I'd love to take one of the machetes
it looks like there might be some magic on this buckler
I'll cast detect magic and assuming there is an aura I will try to decipher it
"Is that shield darkwood? That is rare and magical stuff. Whoever it belongs to must be missing it sorely. Lets hope we find them alive and they k ow how to work with the stuff."
"Yeah Vexas, I doubt they would be the ones to run off the colonists, at least this few of them. I'd bet they showed to scavenge after the colonists were gone."
"Fine with me Kowal. I'd say it's only fair we can use the stuff here to find the people."
Brannart looks around.
"I don't think we checked for tracks outside the smithy, did we? Let's make that part of our standard operating procedure from now on."
"I do use a buckler and sword if we get to close combat. Somebody else could take this buckler, since I don't (yet) have the ability to use it effectively with my polearm, and a reach weapon presents several advantages."
"My pike takes two hands. I can't use it."
While I would love to use such a beautiful mix of nature and civilization it provides less cover than my wooden shield so I will just admore it for now.
"That is a fine chain shirt, Sho, but my armor is sturdier."
Vexas pops out of the smithy and scans the remaining buildings. I wonder if there are any more squatters to contend with. I imagine they would have heard this noise, but they may have elected to remain hidden...
He becomes quiet, and pauses, listening towards other buildings that they haven't entered.
"Well, we sailed up in a high masted ship, launched a boat and rowed across wide open water, stopping along the way to have a quick grindylow fight while cheered on from the ship. Then once we made it to shore we beached the ship, and spent some time diving off the dock. After that, we hauled boxes and barrels around for a while."
"I think the element of surprise slipped away from us some time ago."
Definitely, but I still lean towards maybe introducing additional caution as we look around.
Vexas beings to take lighter steps, and most notice the sounds of his halfling foot-padding nearly disappear.
"Oh sure. It's just that 'I imagine they would have heard this noise' has got to be the most breathtakingly understated thing I've ever heard anyone say."
Kowal weaves his magic and sees a slight aura of abjuration magic around the buckler.
Since landing, you have found nothing but obstacle after obstacle. You wipe the blood, sweat, and dirt from your brow as you drink some water and have some rations. Malakar, especially, is feeling the energy drain after the fight. He took a good spear thrust from the goblinoid and the bite marks from the insect swarm seem to be festering.
To the south is a larger log-cabin style building. Under its thatched roof are several open and uncovered windows. There is a pathway leading to a small porch.
The halfling looks around uncomfortably at the hardier members of the group.
I think the lot of you did the heavy lifting in those fights. Is there anything I can get any of you? A waterskin refill?
Though we aren't Iomedae, we can't have them thinking halflings are lazy creatures! I need yet to show them my greater qualities and become essential...
"Any of you have any healing magic to spare. I was foolish and only prepared offensive magics this morning?"
"Malakar, I think you should take the buckler. It will let you keep a hand free for casting your spells or drinking a potion."
Brannart moves to the large log cabin building and looks for tracks.
Fenna sees to Malaker's wound.
"That's all I have for the day so let's be careful folks."
"Thank you kindly Fena. I am sorry we haven't had a chance to chat much on this trip hopefully we will become good friends. I thank you again for your talents."
Brannart finds no tracks as he follows the sandy path to the large building. The veteran warrior deduces that with no palisade, the wind coming off the water could blow away tracks rather quickly.
This large building is durably built in a log cabin-style construction with a thatched pitched roof and three gables. Its several open windows are uncovered, and the sole entrance on the east side of the building is bereft of a door. A small porch covered by a gable shelters this doorway, though the porch has not been swept and dirt and dust have started to accumulate, while one end of the gable is starting to sag from neglect.
Kowal will move to the to one of the windows keeping about 10 feet from the building itself and look in
Brannart approaches the sheltered porch. While the wind has blown away tracks elsewhere, the fact that dirt and dust have accumulated on this porch means there might be signs of recent passage.
He waits for the others to take a look before proceeding.
Fenna follows up behind Brannart, waiting to follow him inside.
She wrinkles her nose. "Ugh, smells like something died in there."
As we are gathering at the door Kowal notices the shirt that was found early and will quickly attempt to identify it
that shirt is definitely magic but I can’t quite figure out what it is exactly
Well, "died" is better than dying or about to die from violence. Still, caution...
The halfling walks up to the back of the crowd and waits to follow them in.
"I've no clue how to figure it out so you might as well hang on to it Kowal."
Fenna lowers her voice since they're all about to walk into a place that seems kind of dodgy.
Brannart will open the door and look inside.
Malakar readies his new shield as well as his Scimitar ready for danger.
The halfling looks back and forth at the various big-folk and not-so-big-folk in front of him drawing their weapons and takes note.
Oh? It's going to be that again? The goblin-monkeys perhaps?
He draws his rapier and holds it more casually, not yet really sensing any threat.
The interior of this building suggests a modest place of worship-not quite a temple but more than a mere shrine. A table near the center of the west wall appears to serve as an altar, draped in a white but dusty cloth. Behind the table, a large wood carving of a humanoid with a stag’s head leans against the wall. Two rows of benches face the altar, although some have been knocked over and two piles of ashes are visible in the aisle between them. Scattered throughout the room are assorted objects related to public worship, such as a chalice and a ceremonial rod. An ornately carved longbow hangs on the wall near the altar, as if on display.
Against the north wall is a smaller shrine. Nearby is a wooden statue roughly three feet tall that depicts a male half-human and half-avian creature. One carved wing hangs partially broken from the statue. You have seen a depiction of this statue before, and you think back to exiting a carriage at The Golden Aerie in the city of Almas. That night seems like months ago, instead of only weeks. You can remember looking up at the roof before entering the honoring ceremony and seeing the golden statue of Talmandor, the Patron of Andoran.
As Vexas follows his companions into the building he eases and sheathes his rapier. He cracks his knuckles and looks around the room.
Ah, Erastil, of course. A good diety for those plying labor trades in a new world. There was definitely some manner of fight or struggle here.
He keeps slowly walking in circles and scanning details, stopping again as he turns to see the doorway they'd just passed through.
The halfling's eyes widen and he picks up his bare feet to check their undersides.
Blood...
He takes a wide arc following the trail to the alter, looking under it and behind it for more evidence.
"I think you are right, Vexas. Is that what happened to the colonists? They fell to fighting amongst themselves?"
The warrior looks with sadness at the broken statue of Talmandor. The patron of Andoran and the namesake of the colony. The avoral is renowned for his example, his wisdom, and his restraint. He does not demand that his will be followed, or even that his ideas be given more weight than those of other Andorans. It is hard to conceive of an Andoran intentionally damaging his statue.
And enemy of Andoran, on the other hand... Cheliax, maybe.
Or perhaps it was just damaged in the fight.
Brannart considers if his shipwright skills might give him the rudimentary woodworking ability to repair the wing. But for now, the trail of blood is a more pressing matter.
Brannart joins Vexas in looking around the altar.
Kowal seeing more imminent threat through the window will move around to the door and join the others.
though that may be a good initial incubation it still wouldn’t explain where the body’s went and why we haven’t even found bones
Vexas ponders this thought and his head turns towards the piles of ashes.
Fenna looks about the place for anything that looks like it might be a place where documents or records would be stored. She stills holds to the idea that the best chance they have to figure out what happened would come from the colonists own written words.
As you enter the building, look around, and near the altar, a sudden coldness fills the room. The chalice, you noticed earlier lying on the floor, starts to shake back and forth, making a thumping noise on the ground. Then, a rasping, extended whisper, "Murderers! Whyyyyyyyyyyyy?"
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Brannart moves back out of the building. "A spirit! Anybody know what to do?"
"I am no expert but usually they need to be avenged or have their business finished I think."
Vexas rushes back out with Brannart. We need a priest for this!
The only reason Fenna is not be back outside first is she can't physically pass through people in front of her at the door.
"That's very bad!"
interesting, might not be a spirit though that’s is the most likely situation. However it may also be able to shed some light on what happened to the colonists. It would seem a waisted opportunity to just leave it there
Nothing follows you out and the Chapel is quiet.
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Telos frowns at Sho's statement and it gets him thinking.
Hmm, are we so sure we need to defeat it? Still not entirely sure and a bit afraid he pops his head back through the chapel door, only leaning through in a non-committal stance.