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"I've found a wayfinder that belongs to one of our fallen colleagues." Ulena says exiting the Chapel and seeing what the others are up too. "Gibb Potsmasher."
She tucks the wayfinder into a pouch. "I haven't been able to identify the rest of the bodies, if someone else could take a shot before we bury them, so we know who we've discovered. I'm going to go check the Tavern for any other items we can return to their families."
She mutters a quiet prayer to herself as the grisly work continues and tries to identify the remains in the tavern as well.
Jak removes the mold from the floor boards and the counter and then checks the store. He is able to find a bag of rolled oats that are still on a shelf, unspoiled.
Aldonza continues to work on the cart, but is not able to stabilize it.
Roufous looks over the symbol and identifies the iconography to be
a portion of the religious symbol of Iomedae.
Cerventas and Rufous looks through the rooms and manages to find a coin purse with 10 sp in one of the bedside drawers.
Ulena is not able to conclude anything on this body as well.
Round 5
Bodies litter the ground. One in particular stands out. This graying zombie’s features are rotted and torn. Its clothing, although tattered and dirtied, was nevertheless clearly fine at one time, with a torn ruffled collar and ripped cloak.
In the undead horse's mouth and wrapped down around the neck is a Wayfinder.
Dust-covered pews stand in silent rows in this small chapel, and shelves line the walls. Facsimiles of candles occupy the candelabras here—mounds of congealed wax and burned wicks.
A small corpse—charred, broken, and its features mostly burned away—rests against the pew. The corpse is covered in a layer of fine ash and scraps of charred fabric that seem to be all that remains of the clothing it once wore. Around its neck is a soot-covered chain bearing an ankh.
Empty weapon cases and crates are scattered throughout this bare-bones building. Dust outlines the faint shadows of swords and shields removed from their resting places.
Grime-caked and smashed glass cases occupy much of this apothecary, and dusty shelves line many of the walls. A door to the northwest leads to an emptied storage closet.
Outside the building, a painted sign reading “The Flaming Wheel” and decorated with a flaming chariot wheel hangs from one chain, swaying gently in the wind.
A broken circular table and door, part of a makeshift barricade, rest near the entrance of this modest tavern. Other similar tables and accompanying chairs are scattered throughout the area. Long-dried blood smears decorate the floor and walls. The bar is haphazardly covered in tankards—signs of the final celebration of life.
This corpse has been heavily damaged by zombie teeth. A broken piece of plate armor lies nearby, bearing iconography of a flame and the hilt of a sword.
:
Berating herself for failing she wanders into the apothecary and spends the next ten minutes wordlessly rummaging through it for anything that might be of use.
Jak goes over to the horse and is able to coax him the horse closer. The horse seems a little apprehensive at first, but then begins to eat the oats from Jak's hand.
Standing adjacent to the horse now, Jak can see a set of engravings on the saddle, the first is Desert Wind. The second Larraz Virtanne.
Jak is also able to reach into the horse's saddlebags and retrieve two minor healing potions.
Aldonza is not able to identify the body.
Ulena, Cervanted and Rufous to act
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Cervantes, having found another one of their comrades, lifts him as respectfully as possible and goes to deposit the body on the wagon.
After a quiet prayer, Cervantes goes to brush Rocinante while waiting for the others. "I think we've done as much as we can here, right Rocinante? At least we will be able to offer our brothers and sisters some rest."
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"We, we haven't be able to identify the bodies her yet, though I've certainly given it my best shot. I'd hate to the area not knowing if we actually completed a portion of our mission or not."
Ulena sits down with Cervantes and Rufous clearly frustrated and feeling useless. "But I suppose we've done what we can."
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"Hooo, Ulena, my friend. Don't get yourself down like that!" - says Cervantes, patting the Shelynite on the back - "Besides, we can't let 'perfect' be the enemy of 'good', now can we?"
Cervantes stands up, dusting himself off and walks towards Rocinante and the wagon. "I'll get ourselves ready to depart when Señorita Aldonza is ready."
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"Anyone able to get this cart fixed up in better shape?" Rufous asks his friends. "We can use it to transport the remains of these poor souls back with us." He makes the sign of the Dawnflower with his right hand as he says this.
”Hey, don’t rub it in!”, Aldonza replies, making her way from the tavern. ”I did what I could, but wheels aren’t in my wheelhouse”
She rejoins the others. ”There’s another corpse in there, but not as intriguing as I’d hoped”, she adds, tilting her head back the way she came. ”Show’s over? Time to load out?”
After nearly an hour investigating the town, the agents load up the cart with the deceased that they found and head out. Desert Wind trailing behind.
Goldenflame College is a 10-minute walk south from Goldenflame itself.
Although run down, Goldenflame College still bears signs of its once-beautiful architecture: dirty and ivy-wrapped columns, majestic archways, and a partially intact stained-glass window portraying Iomedae herself.
1) Entrance
Two wide staircases lead into the college, and centered above them is the religious symbol of Iomedae. Engraved into the graying stone is “Goldenflame College, Est. 4083 ar.” A pair of sweeping staircases lead to a veranda across the entire front of the college, with entrances to a reception area and the main hall on either side.
Body: This small corpse’s hand is outstretched to the door of Goldenflame College. The body is clad in dirtied white-andred robes with gold trim, shredded from the back as though by cruel claws. A small notebook has fallen nearby, its pages stained with dried blood.
2) Reception Area:
A dusty sofa and small chairs are the only furnishings that remain in this modest room. Two small windows to the east look out over the front lawn, and doors exit to the north, west, and south.
3) Main Hall
Perhaps once majestic, this cavernous hall now truly resembles a cave: dark and dank. Dirt and standing water obscure the once-pristine white and gray tile, and stone colonnades stretching to the ceiling are covered in grime and mold. Sweeping staircases to the northwest and southwest lead upward, as does a spiral staircase. Smashed statues and torn paintings line the walls here: the signs of a struggle. Several doors exit to various rooms to the north, south, and east.
4) Offices
Dirty rugs, shattered desks, and smashed-in doors are what remains of these small offices. Papers and long-dried inkwells are scattered among the detritus.
Body: In the northwesternmost office lies a body. Heavy claw marks and deep rips mar this corpse, which lies sprawled and partially covered by the broken desk in the northwest corner. The desiccated flesh of zombies litters the floor around it. Scraps of cloth hang tattered around its mangled hands, which even now are locked into fists.
5) Lounge
The velvet-lined sofa pushed up against the north wall is caked in dust. Broken chairs rest in the southwest. A small closet and empty office, both with their doors torn off or kicked in, are to the west. Closed wooden doors lead to the east and south.
6) Classroom
This spacious classroom still contains some relatively intact seating and a dusty old rug. To the west, the floor is sodden, and part of it has collapsed, revealing a hole filled with shattered bookshelves, broken chairs, and other decor. Doors exit to the north.
7) Well
8) Study Hall
This room is lined with bookshelves and sitting mats. Two smaller rooms branch from the main hallway, serving as private study nooks. Looking around, you find a book named The Acts of Iomedae
9) Dean’s Quarters
The double door to this suite has been knocked off its hinges and shattered, leaving the exit open to the hallway outside. A broken four-post bed stands against the eastern wall. A circular table and an accompanying chair occupy a nook in the southwest. A large statue depicting a marble chariot wheel sporting flames of gold occupies the northeast corner.
10) Dormitories
These small rooms housed students who elected to not live in separate residences.
Aldonza is able to see the broken and shaven down tusks. Easily identifying this body is that of a Half-Orc.
Jak looks at the body and can confirm that is either that of a gnome or a halfling.
Cervantes, checking the well, finds that the water is still fresh. Nothing else catches his eye.
Ulena checks two of the dorms and finds some dusty jewelry.
Before Rufous can enter the room, he can hear scurrying above him and the ceiling sagging. He notice that as he gets closer, the movement intensifies and causes cracks to form on in the ceiling. If he moves any further into the room, he fears it will callapse.
Next Round of Checks
1) Entrance
Two wide staircases lead into the college, and centered above them is the religious symbol of Iomedae. Engraved into the graying stone is “Goldenflame College, Est. 4083 ar.” A pair of sweeping staircases lead to a veranda across the entire front of the college, with entrances to a reception area and the main hall on either side.
Body: This small corpse’s hand is outstretched to the door of Goldenflame College. The body is clad in dirtied white-andred robes with gold trim, shredded from the back as though by cruel claws. A small notebook has fallen nearby, its pages stained with dried blood.
2) Reception Area:
A dusty sofa and small chairs are the only furnishings that remain in this modest room. Two small windows to the east look out over the front lawn, and doors exit to the north, west, and south.
3) Main Hall
Perhaps once majestic, this cavernous hall now truly resembles a cave: dark and dank. Dirt and standing water obscure the once-pristine white and gray tile, and stone colonnades stretching to the ceiling are covered in grime and mold. Sweeping staircases to the northwest and southwest lead upward, as does a spiral staircase. Smashed statues and torn paintings line the walls here: the signs of a struggle. Several doors exit to various rooms to the north, south, and east.
4) Offices
Dirty rugs, shattered desks, and smashed-in doors are what remains of these small offices. Papers and long-dried inkwells are scattered among the detritus.
Body: In the northwesternmost office lies a body. Heavy claw marks and deep rips mar this corpse, which lies sprawled and partially covered by the broken desk in the northwest corner. The desiccated flesh of zombies litters the floor around it. Scraps of cloth hang tattered around its mangled hands, which even now are locked into fists.
5) Lounge
The velvet-lined sofa pushed up against the north wall is caked in dust. Broken chairs rest in the southwest. A small closet and empty office, both with their doors torn off or kicked in, are to the west. Closed wooden doors lead to the east and south.
6) Classroom
This spacious classroom still contains some relatively intact seating and a dusty old rug. To the west, the floor is sodden, and part of it has collapsed, revealing a hole filled with shattered bookshelves, broken chairs, and other decor. Doors exit to the north.
7) Well
8) Study Hall
This room is lined with bookshelves and sitting mats. Two smaller rooms branch from the main hallway, serving as private study nooks. Looking around, you find a book named The Acts of Iomedae
9) Dean’s Quarters
The double door to this suite has been knocked off its hinges and shattered, leaving the exit open to the hallway outside. A broken four-post bed stands against the eastern wall. A circular table and an accompanying chair occupy a nook in the southwest. A large statue depicting a marble chariot wheel sporting flames of gold occupies the northeast corner.
10) Dormitories
These small rooms housed students who elected to not live in separate residences.
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"Can anyone help me reinforce this ceiling in here?" Rufous calls out to his companions.
What am I, a contractor?, thinks Aldonza.
”One minute, my lovely!”, she calls back. ”I feel the need to criticize my new friend’s fashion choices!”She examines the cloth wraps around the corpse’s hands.
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Cervantes hears Rufous' cry for help. Even though his handiness leaves much to be desired, he goes to investigate regardless.
He is distracted on his way to answer the call, however, by the luxurious-looking lounge furniture in the lounge. Something tells Cervantes that the room hides some secrets. He begins poking around, momentarily forgetting about his companion's cry for help.
Jak, looking over the tattered clothing, can tell that these are robes that were worn by the priest and adherents of Iomedae.
Aldonza takes a moment to look at the wraps in further detail. She remembers that brawlers use these types of hand wraps to offer some protection to their knuckles.
Ulena finishes her sweep of the upstairs dormitory. She find a vial of holy water in one of the drawers.
While Roufous waits for another agent to help with the ceiling, he moves back to the study area and peruses the bookshelves.
However, nothing catches his eye.
Cerventes looks in the lounge, where he can hear faint sobbing coming from behind the couch. As he moves closer, a half orc in padded armor and carrying a staff, pops up from behind the couch and begins screaming uncontrollably.
1) Entrance
Two wide staircases lead into the college, and centered above them is the religious symbol of Iomedae. Engraved into the graying stone is “Goldenflame College, Est. 4083 ar.” A pair of sweeping staircases lead to a veranda across the entire front of the college, with entrances to a reception area and the main hall on either side.
Body: This small corpse’s hand is outstretched to the door of Goldenflame College. The body is clad in dirtied white-andred robes with gold trim, shredded from the back as though by cruel claws. A small notebook has fallen nearby, its pages stained with dried blood.
2) Reception Area:
A dusty sofa and small chairs are the only furnishings that remain in this modest room. Two small windows to the east look out over the front lawn, and doors exit to the north, west, and south.
3) Main Hall
Perhaps once majestic, this cavernous hall now truly resembles a cave: dark and dank. Dirt and standing water obscure the once-pristine white and gray tile, and stone colonnades stretching to the ceiling are covered in grime and mold. Sweeping staircases to the northwest and southwest lead upward, as does a spiral staircase. Smashed statues and torn paintings line the walls here: the signs of a struggle. Several doors exit to various rooms to the north, south, and east.
4) Offices
Dirty rugs, shattered desks, and smashed-in doors are what remains of these small offices. Papers and long-dried inkwells are scattered among the detritus.
Body: In the northwesternmost office lies a body. Heavy claw marks and deep rips mar this corpse, which lies sprawled and partially covered by the broken desk in the northwest corner. The desiccated flesh of zombies litters the floor around it. Scraps of cloth hang tattered around its mangled hands, which even now are locked into fists.
5) Lounge
The velvet-lined sofa pushed up against the north wall is caked in dust. Broken chairs rest in the southwest. A small closet and empty office, both with their doors torn off or kicked in, are to the west. Closed wooden doors lead to the east and south.
6) Classroom
This spacious classroom still contains some relatively intact seating and a dusty old rug. To the west, the floor is sodden, and part of it has collapsed, revealing a hole filled with shattered bookshelves, broken chairs, and other decor. Doors exit to the north.
7) Well
8) Study Hall
This room is lined with bookshelves and sitting mats. Two smaller rooms branch from the main hallway, serving as private study nooks.
9) Dean’s Quarters
The double door to this suite has been knocked off its hinges and shattered, leaving the exit open to the hallway outside. A broken four-post bed stands against the eastern wall. A circular table and an accompanying chair occupy a nook in the southwest. A large statue depicting a marble chariot wheel sporting flames of gold occupies the northeast corner.
10) Dormitories
These small rooms housed students who elected to not live in separate residences.
Next round of checks
Aldonza skillfully constructs a support out of some loose wood found in the building.
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"MY. dear. You scared me! But fear not, friend. We are not here to hurt you. We are here to help! Oh, I am very happy to see you are still alive. Come, my companions and I will keep you safe. We just have to finish looking here for other people that might need our help.
Or at least that's what Cervantes imagined himself saying. Instead, he mostly yelped loudly and then struggled to get words out, being so startled.
Cerventes is not able to calm the half-orc down. Luckily Rufous, hearing the commotion, comes down from the Dean's Quarters and is able to soothe him.
"So, you are not here to kill the survivors." The half-orc takes a ragged breath. "Thank the divines. I am Larraz Virtanne. You are looking for other people. Have you found anyone else yet? The team I was sent with was overrun and we got seperated."
Jak heads upstairs to the study hall and while combing the bookshelves finds and antique copy of The Acts of Iomedae, the religious text of the faith. He recalls that these books of this age and condition are extremely rare.
1) Entrance
Two wide staircases lead into the college, and centered above them is the religious symbol of Iomedae. Engraved into the graying stone is “Goldenflame College, Est. 4083 ar.” A pair of sweeping staircases lead to a veranda across the entire front of the college, with entrances to a reception area and the main hall on either side.
Body: This small corpse’s hand is outstretched to the door of Goldenflame College. The body is clad in dirtied white-andred robes with gold trim, shredded from the back as though by cruel claws. A small notebook has fallen nearby, its pages stained with dried blood.
2) Reception Area:
A dusty sofa and small chairs are the only furnishings that remain in this modest room. Two small windows to the east look out over the front lawn, and doors exit to the north, west, and south.
3) Main Hall
Perhaps once majestic, this cavernous hall now truly resembles a cave: dark and dank. Dirt and standing water obscure the once-pristine white and gray tile, and stone colonnades stretching to the ceiling are covered in grime and mold. Sweeping staircases to the northwest and southwest lead upward, as does a spiral staircase. Smashed statues and torn paintings line the walls here: the signs of a struggle. Several doors exit to various rooms to the north, south, and east.
4) Offices
Dirty rugs, shattered desks, and smashed-in doors are what remains of these small offices. Papers and long-dried inkwells are scattered among the detritus.
Body: In the northwesternmost office lies a body. Heavy claw marks and deep rips mar this corpse, which lies sprawled and partially covered by the broken desk in the northwest corner. The desiccated flesh of zombies litters the floor around it. Scraps of cloth hang tattered around its mangled hands, which even now are locked into fists.
5) Lounge
The velvet-lined sofa pushed up against the north wall is caked in dust. Broken chairs rest in the southwest. A small closet and empty office, both with their doors torn off or kicked in, are to the west. Closed wooden doors lead to the east and south.
6) Classroom
This spacious classroom still contains some relatively intact seating and a dusty old rug. To the west, the floor is sodden, and part of it has collapsed, revealing a hole filled with shattered bookshelves, broken chairs, and other decor. Doors exit to the north.
7) Well
8) Study Hall
This room is lined with bookshelves and sitting mats. Two smaller rooms branch from the main hallway, serving as private study nooks.
9) Dean’s Quarters
The double door to this suite has been knocked off its hinges and shattered, leaving the exit open to the hallway outside. A broken four-post bed stands against the eastern wall. A circular table and an accompanying chair occupy a nook in the southwest. A large statue depicting a marble chariot wheel sporting flames of gold occupies the northeast corner.
10) Dormitories
These small rooms housed students who elected to not live in separate residences.
Next round of checks. Ulena, you may attempt two
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Cervantes' heart is still pumping as he stumbles his way through the conversation with the poor half-orc. He sighs in relief as Rufous takes over the conversation for him, allowing him to make his escape from the embarrassing situation.
He is still so embarrassed, however, that he finds it difficult to concentrate on his search of the office.
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Aldonza dusts off her hands. She hears screams of terror, and dashes excitedly into the lounge, but Rufous has the situation well in hand. Dejectedly, she escorts Cervantes back to the office where she started.
”It’s alright”, she says. ”Maybe we’ll find someone hiding in here, that we can scare out of their wits”
Cervetas is still to shooken up to notice anything. However, while Aldonza consoles the elder bard, her keen elf eye notice something behind an overturned cabinet.
She locates a strange amulet, and next it, another wayfinder.
Rufous, Jak and Unlena(two checks) may go
Ulena sees the statue and recognizes that it has meaning to the faith of Iomedae. So much so, that a recovery like this would be highly coveted by museums and personal collectors alike.
Rufous looks over the notebook, but can not make sense of the notes.
1) Entrance
Two wide staircases lead into the college, and centered above them is the religious symbol of Iomedae. Engraved into the graying stone is “Goldenflame College, Est. 4083 ar.” A pair of sweeping staircases lead to a veranda across the entire front of the college, with entrances to a reception area and the main hall on either side.
Body: This small corpse’s hand is outstretched to the door of Goldenflame College. The body is clad in dirtied white-andred robes with gold trim, shredded from the back as though by cruel claws. A small notebook has fallen nearby, its pages stained with dried blood.
2) Reception Area:
A dusty sofa and small chairs are the only furnishings that remain in this modest room. Two small windows to the east look out over the front lawn, and doors exit to the north, west, and south.
3) Main Hall
Perhaps once majestic, this cavernous hall now truly resembles a cave: dark and dank. Dirt and standing water obscure the once-pristine white and gray tile, and stone colonnades stretching to the ceiling are covered in grime and mold. Sweeping staircases to the northwest and southwest lead upward, as does a spiral staircase. Smashed statues and torn paintings line the walls here: the signs of a struggle. Several doors exit to various rooms to the north, south, and east.
6) Classroom
This spacious classroom still contains some relatively intact seating and a dusty old rug. To the west, the floor is sodden, and part of it has collapsed, revealing a hole filled with shattered bookshelves, broken chairs, and other decor. Doors exit to the north.
New round of checks for everybody
[spoiler=Rolls]
Ulena follows Jak inside of the room. Neither find anything of interest.
Rufous locates a painting that survived the attack. It is a female halfling dressed in pristine white finery. Most likely a former dean of Goldenflame College. [ooc]Recovered another Relic
Aldonza moves over to look at the book. It appears to be jibberish to her.
Cervantes rests, while the others continue exploring.
1) Entrance
Two wide staircases lead into the college, and centered above them is the religious symbol of Iomedae. Engraved into the graying stone is “Goldenflame College, Est. 4083 ar.” A pair of sweeping staircases lead to a veranda across the entire front of the college, with entrances to a reception area and the main hall on either side.
Body: This small corpse’s hand is outstretched to the door of Goldenflame College. The body is clad in dirtied white-andred robes with gold trim, shredded from the back as though by cruel claws. A small notebook has fallen nearby, its pages stained with dried blood.
6) Classroom
This spacious classroom still contains some relatively intact seating and a dusty old rug. To the west, the floor is sodden, and part of it has collapsed, revealing a hole filled with shattered bookshelves, broken chairs, and other decor. Doors exit to the north.
Agents may act or wrap it up