The padlock is closed. The chest is locked.
Sebastien just looks suspiciously at the blood smear, the trunk and the padlock.
The blood, the trunk, and the padlock all look suspiciously back.
What, pray tell, do you do?
Leave the trunk be? Try to unlock it? Break it open? Move on to another, perhaps less suspicious, room?
The Bard then slaps the Rogue on the back.
Good luck!
The halfling then back away, away, away.....
Boros approaches the locked chest, and after some careful observation, tries his hand at the padlock.
After a few tense moments, Boros the Snake wipes the sweat from his brow and gives his lockpick a final twist. With a triumphant click, the padlock pops open.
Boros open the trunk and goes pale as he covers his mouth and nose. The foul stench in the air grows immediately stronger. The thieving halfling backs away.
Stuffed within the trunk is a body in a state of advanced decay. The flesh is putrefied and waxy. The smell is horrendous.
The good news is, it doesn’t stir.
"Who...or what, would lock a dead...or dying, body in a trunk? Close it and let's move on.". Shemar says, covering his nose.
Sébastien pukes.
The halfling then pulls out a handkerchief, pats his mouth and pukes again.
Repeating the process for a full minute, the bard then looks up at his companions.
Apologies. I should've not eaten that 3rd burrito for breakfast.
Nodding to Shemar, Sébastien heads over to the East door.
Making certain each is with him, he opens it....
Shemar backs up and turns his attention to the door to the east from the landing. He opens it up to find another darkened room, but once Sebastien illuminates it with his shield, the party sees the Watch's chapel. A wooden table adorned with a golden yellow linen cloth sits near the center of the room, several religious implements sit atop it, including an idol of a lion-headed knight. A similar lion themed wooden icon hangs on the eastern wall.
From here, a simple wooden door leads south.
Sébastien takes an uneducated guess while studying the religious items.
This appears to be a chapel dedicated to Toma Thule, The Lion, God of Community, Civilisation, and Rulership. Given his affinity amongst knights and nobility in the region, this is unsurprising.
The bard winks.
It's almost as if Sebastien's recollection of religious lore has a copy+paste function.
The altar pieces contain three brass bells of different sizes, a simple wooden bowl, and a glass vial with stopper containing a clear liquid, as well as the aforementioned idol.
As Sebastien examines these items, he gets an uneasy feeling.
"Okay, yeah. I see that this is a shrine to Toma Thule, or whatever, but look at the way that everything is arranged. This place has been profaned by something evil. Someone has turned this place to a conduit of evil without being overly obvious. It needs a holy person to cleanse it. It could be part of the trouble here.".
Shemar looks around unfortunately, not being able to be if any more help.
Sébastien begin looking around for a religion professional.....
The halfling shrugs.
Might be something we Lay petsons could try?
Well, you could certainly try, but without knowledge of the specific rites and proper implements, you may be stumped.
There's the door you just walked in from, and a simple wooden door to the south.
"I know nothing of religious rites and would feel silly attempting them. Let's just move on. Next door?"
Shemar will give a listen to the next door and then open it if he hears nothing.
Sébastien nods to Shemar before Raising his Shield and joining the sorcerer.
The local Penchev family has become concerned about the fate of their son, Vazenko. Last word from him came in the form of a letter a year ago from the small town of Hearth to the north. Vazenko had gone to Hearth to find work in the lumbermills but had fallen to drink and gambling. The letter expresses excitement, however, at the prospect of joining the local wizard, Drazmorg on an expedition to recover some ancient riches. A full year has passed since the letter was received, and the Penchevs have offered a fine purse to anyone who discovers the fate of young Vazenko.
With the snows of winter clearing up, you set out on the road to Hearth, a four day journey on foot through the Silverpine Forest. On the second day, upon entering the forest, you come across a fallen tree which has been drug off the road. A fresh, shallow grave is dug in a nearby ditch. Continuing on near sundown, you find the bodies of slain feral dogs littering the road near a recently occupied campsite. The next morning you near the Silverpine Watch a small fort which straddles the road between two hills. As you approach the Watch, you are flagged down by two halfling women tending a cart full of goods. You notice a third man, gagged and bound, and a body wrapped among the goods in the cart. The halfling women, Oona and Elry, inform you that the Watch seems mysteriously abandoned, and that they found the body of the tinker nearby on the road. A group of their companions have entered the Watch and have been in there for a few hours already, with no word or signal yet. They are growing increasingly concerned.
Because of the way the Watch is situated across the road, they cannot pass through with the cart until the gates have been opened from within. Oona states she makes this trip once a year and this is all highly unusual. Seeing that you are geared for adventure, they ask if you don't mind helping.
"But of course ladies. And you have seen no signs of them since they entered the building? No sudden noises or images? That makes me fear for them as they know you are awaiting entrance".
Stepnik turns to Waedin and Travis...
"What say you friends? Should we take a small detour to help these fine folks in distress"?
Perception (Sense Motive) to determine if they are being truthful.
Helping folks in distress is 'parently my calling in life so, yeah I think we can go in and see what's happening. Can ya let us know who went in ahead of us?
The two halflings seem genuine enough, although they seem to have omitted any explanation of the captive man in their cart.
”There were five who entered," states the one called Elry, "We are the Darkwater Six, but I elected to stay with Oona while the rest went to investigate."
"Oh! And there’s a pig with them."
Meanwhile…
Up in the eastern tower, Shemar opens a door.
"Wait…" whispers Danus, "don’cha feel that sudden chill?"
But it’s too late. From up through the altar, the ghostly knight appears wailing in torment.
"My closest and dearest friend, betrayed me! Now he is dead, dead by my own hand! I can’t let you proceed any further!"
He reaches out to touch Valkor.
Valkor drops to the floor.
Sébastien seems like his Fight or Flight instints are about to kick in the flight way.....
Travis looked at Waedin and Stepnik and nodded. He pausesto look at the halfling women. can I ask why is this man tied up in the back of the wagon?
Oona replies "Oh, that's just Cato. He and some other bandits tried to ambush us down the road. We were going to turn him over to Lord Arpaad here at the Watch, but... Well, we shall see."
Travis looks at Cato nods and shrugs and turns adjusting his shield and moves to the door to the keep entering cautiously, shield up and weapon ready.
"Well... Chop! Chop! Let's go. The day's not getting any shorter".
I'll not be hurried Stepnik, we'll get there when we get there. Unless ya want to take the lead?
Travis, Waedin, and Stepnik find the footpath that leads up the hill to the entrance of the western tower. They find the door open, leading into a windowless entry hall. From the sunlight filtering in from the door, they can see an open door across the way and a staircase on the southern end of the room leading down. Travis takes a step in...
In the chapel room in the eastern tower, Valkor lays unconscious and dying on the floor next to the altar. Above the altar floats the ghostly apparition of a knight. The ghostly knight suddenly turns his head, distracted by something.
"No!" he exclaims, "More have entered the Watch! I must not let them know what miserable things I've done!"
I'll not be hurried Stepnik, we'll get there when we get there. Unless ya want to take the lead?
"That's not what you say when we're headed for a tavern... though it does resemble what you say when the tab comes due".
If Shemar hears nothing from the other side of the door to the south, he will open it.
Shemar opens the door to reveal a darkened room. From what light cast by Sebastien's shield enters the room, at a quick glance, Shemar sees an office. An old wooden desk has a heavy book and a wooden box atop it. A brass statuette lies in a dark stain upon the floor in front the desk. A half dozen books are shelved on the mantle above a cold fireplace.
Another door leads out the eastern wall of the room.
"Looks like someone got brained by that statue. Do you remember a zombie with it's head caved in?"
Looking closer at the statuette... That's not a dragon, is it?
◆◆detect magic.
Well there's an open door, makes sense that'll be the way to go. Waedin says.
"No time like the present".
EXPLORATION: Seek
Travis moves quickly across the open expanse of flagstones to the open door saying to the others well with the open door it's obvious they came this way. Let's see what they say and head upstairs
Sébastien is still staring at the ghost just looking back.
Maybe we should depart while he seems distracted?
The halfling attempts to Create A Diversion.
He then Hides.
He then Sneaks away, away, away....
The sorry-looking bard is absolutely terrible at this....he waves at the knightly apparition.
Valkor--the Boss--was down. Very down. As he watches Sebastien slink away, it seemed he had a choice. Stand and fight, or save his skin. Was he a hero? His gaze shifts between the ghost and the fallen monk.
"This ain't my fight,' he says, and joins Sebastien in fleeing!
Sébastien slips and slides slinking away. He wishes he were more like Boros....
He closes his eye to become invisible to the ghost....
Travis, Waedin, and Stepnik move quickly into the tower. They first find a coat room, and notice one set of cold weather gear is missing. They take note and quickly move up the stairs. There they are stopped by the grisly display and charred and mangled zombie corpses littering the floor of what looks like a bunk room. The door to a small private quarter lies open to the south, with items scattered haphazardly about. Another door to the east lies open as well, and you can hear the sounds of mournful wailing coming from beyond.
In the other tower, at the other end of the covered walkway, Shemar quickly scans the open office for magic. He does indeed detect the presence of magic therein. Meanwhile, Sebastien and Boros begin skulking away from the angry ghost.
"Wha? Where you going?" asks a confused Danus, who falters but then runs to Valkor's side.
The ghostly knight is pulled away from the altar and floats out of the room, past the sneaky halflings, through the wall, and towards the other tower, wailing "I must drive them out! No one is to know my terrible deeds!"
Stepnick takes a breath, and his glasses fog up a bit. "What is that? It doesn't even sound human. Stay clear of the door, and perhaps I can prepare a surprise for whatever it is.
Or not. :-)
Waedin exclaims By the beard hairs of Torag... the hell is that?,
◆ moves towards the door but leaves plenty of space between her and it
◆ raises her shield
◆ tries to figure out what's going on.
Waedin gets a view of a spectral figure, donned in a full set of armor and wielding a sword, floating at full speed towards her general location.
Whatever that floating swordsman is, it ain't natural and it's coming this way!
◆ Stride
◆ Raise Shield
◆ Recall Knowledge: Occultism
"Eggads... Never heard anything like that".
Boros is quite surprised to see this ghost turning its back on them! As he hears some voices in the distance, he becomes worried that Elry has come looking for them! He sneaks forward, trying to stay out of sight.
Sébastien decides to put on his big halfling pants. The Bard begins to Orate about a long and healthy lifestyle, consistent with having a zero ghost diet!
The halfling then cast Shield and Stealths a bit further away....
Travis shivers inside his armor at the unholy noise . He looked at the others and raised his shield, readying his flail and moved to the far side from where Stepnick had gone...
"That ghost again! I wish I listened to Grandma's stories. Or that my dragon friend stuck around a little longer to tell me about these things. Can we even hurt it?"
◆◆◆ magic missile