Once they get into the city Jaxom watches around them. The lack of people seems very odd. Could the split of the world have killed so many? Or are they hiding?
"Excuse me, sir," Rabbit says, thoroughly deferential, to the nearest of the guards accompanying their progress. He has a lifetime of past obsequiousness to draw on, at least. "Please, if you don't mind, where are all the people at? The families and such? Or is it just you all?"
The path the group is taking seems to be fairly straightforward, heading down the a wide street deeper into the city. Eochaidh's sharp eyes don't spot anything particularly threatening, but inside the builds he does spot the occasional person peeking out windows. Alden spots the occasional lone guard standing at a corner, but only a few in the blocks the group walks.
Looking beyond the rise of houses Jaxom can see the edge of the shard growing near in the distance, some large buildings past the next two blocks near the border wall of the shard. It would appear a large portion of a city distract was here, though none of the buildings appear large enough to be any of the key city buildings.
As Rabbit queries the nearest guard to one side the man looks down at him with a soft gaze. "Oh they're about." he says easily, "Just keeping out of the way. You don't worry about them none. You'll probably meet them soon enough. We've got some kids that would like seeing a small foot about. Haven't had any of them since the world broke."
Tymos overhears them and casts the man a stern look, and the man hushes nervously. He then gives Rabbit a second look.
After which he shakes his head, but appears to be considering things.
The group continues down the main street to a small intersection with a working fountain. A pair of guards stands here, watching each direction of the road. There are three main paths from here. The first being back where the group came from. The second leading to several mansions and a partially ruined tower, and the third to some houses that had been burned to the ground next to a graveyard. The iron fence around it had been raised higher with boards and other scrap material, and in the partially ruined tower there was another ballista manned by a solider. This one was pointed into the cemetary.
"This way." Tymos says flatly as he turns away from the cemetery road and toward the mansions.
Eochaidh makes note of the path the group has walked so far and is more than a bit curious about the assets focused on the cemetery.
"Wow, I haven't seen this many building in quite some time. What's with the ballista targeting the cemetery? Undead problems? I've seen that before. I was with Dr McCaskill when he went in to destroy a nest of ghouls I think they were. Nasty things, and smelly. Anyway, it was incredible how quickly they could increase their numbers and they had this village under siege, but was Dr McCaskill nervous, not that I could tell. The man had nerves of steel, I tell ya. Before long, there we were in this underground warren of tunnels, smell of death all around, and the sound of raspy breathing coming from everywhere. So,..." Kevan relays his new story as he walks. He tries to pay attention to the reactions of those around him as he rambles on but gets caught up in his own story..
Jaxom watches the surroundings, committing the route and anything interesting to memory to hopefully be able to return if things go bad. He stays quiet.
Alden takes it all in as he walks, taking note of the fortifications, especially around the cemetery, as well as the decided lack of everyday citizens.
Recalling how he could surveil the shards before joining, it is very likely that these soldiers, or at least their leader, have seen Passbog, and have a good idea of the community's resources.
He considers where this impending negotiation may go, and what type of concessions he may be prepared to make on behalf of the townsfolk.
Rabbit nods at the soldier's words of the children being happy to see smallfolk, and offers a smile of the correct dim wattage-- happy halfling, that's me! Eager to entertain the children or perform menial tasks!
Inwardly, his eyes track to the exits. Like the others, he notes the position of the ballista. That's.. ominous.
He tries to get some sense of the soldiers' intent as they walk...
Tymos pauses for one moment at Kevan's story, considering. All the soldiers stop as he does. He then turns and looks at the rogue with a stony expression. He then begins their trek anew. "You've seen ghouls then?" he asks casually.
Jaxom and Eochaidh take careful note of their surrounding, noting which buildings seem truly empty... yet not destroyed.
The cemetery is quiet, and the ballista team doesn't seem concerned of an imminent threat. Yet no one watching the cemetery takes their gaze from it for a moment.
The soldiers mostly seem to be following Tymos with varying degrees of comfort. The group seems at their ease as much as they can be around the party. The nearest guard seems truly at ease near Rabbit, almost seeming as if they would be happy to speak more if not wary of their leader.
Heading along the group comes unto a handful of mansions and a partially ruined tower. It stood a good four stories, for the most part. Where the tower had split open above a fissure ran down the side that opened some of the remaining stories to open air. Most of the rubble remained around it, and the door had been removed. It appeared empty and unoccupied.
Tymos leads you toward the largest mansion, surrounded with a wall and bearing tall hedgerow gardens on either side. It is a wide, two story structure with what must be a dozen rooms to either side.
It was the only mansion that appeared well maintained, though the two mansions making up it's nearest neighbors appeared lived it. One with a stables, empty but for one horse that ambled about on a guide rope out front. The other seemed to be taken up as a barracks. If the board out front with papers and proclamations wasn't any indication the man stationed out from next to a barrel of weapons surely was.
Two more soldiers flanked the gate to the main mansion as Tymos led you to the entrance and stopped again. "If you would have anymore words, or a need that I can attend before you see my master tell me now." he said.
At the question from Tymos about the ghouls Kevan said, "Well, I'm no expert but death smelling monstrosities that are kind of like zombies but faster. I'd have to ask Dr McCaskill to be sure and I haven't seen him in years. But I think they were ghouls. Creepy things, anyway." Kevan then closes out the story, depending on where he was interrupted, and then goes on about what an amazing man Dr McCaskill was.
Once in front of the mansions, "Since you asked, is there a latrine behind the barracks? Just in case you know." Kevan asks with an impish grin.
"Ghouls? Hmmph. Undead monstrosities. Magic!"
Eochaidh waits for Alden to take the lead in discussing things with Tymos.
"Thank you for your safe conduct," Alden replies to Tymos. "We will meet with your Master now."
"Yes, thank you, sir," Rabbit echoes, and offers one more smile at the 'friendly' soldier, as well as deferential head bobs to them both. It seems plain that Tymos doesn't remember him, anyway. Why should he? He was merely the help-- not worth so much as a second glance.
Behind Rabbit's placid smile, darker thoughts quietly roll around.
Should there be any chance to whisper to Alden without the watchful gaze of their escort, Rabbit will tug the paladin's sleeve and try and do so.
"Tymos kicked me once. He's cruel and callous."
Tymos almost sneers at Kevan, but he holds it back in an attempt to be civil. "Yes, there is." he says with a gesture toward the barracks, "Be quick." He gives a sidelong look to Jaxom as he speaks, and seems to take a moment to size the other man up.
As Kevan is gone Rabbit is able to have Alden turn and whisper a message to him. Tymos either doesn't hear or doesn't seem to care.
Once the group is ready they are led into the mansion by Tymos and his soldiers. Ascending the main stair in the center of the home they are taken through a set of double doors at the top into a large office. It was easily fifteen feet across and thirty feet wide. Many sitting chairs were before a massive oaken desk. The desk had filigree worked into it, as did the bookcase off to one side. The other side sported a globe of Golarion built into a brandy cabinet with a mirror. A large carpet dominated the open floor, impressively knit into a red and black pattern.
Sitting behind the desk before a wide alcove window sat a very plump and wide man in a silken tunic with long sleeves. It was also black and red, but bore no heraldry. He wore a hood, and over his face was what looked like an iron mask that failed to fully cover his jawline.
While his features were guarded, his voice is almost melodic as he speaks. "Greetings fellow shard bearers." he warmly welcomes, "I am Barik Kron, lord of new Ostenso. I am so very pleased that you have come to parley with me. It has been a long and arduous journey for my people and I to reach you, have no doubts of that. I hope that we can all prosper together. Please, be seated. Take your ease. Would you care for something to drink? Tymos, please have your men wait outside."
Tymos balks at the order, but nods and ushers his soldiers out. All of which are obviously relieved to leave the room. As they shuffle out Barik looks over the party.
His head cants ever so slightly to the side for a moment.
Tymos almost sneers at Kevan, but he holds it back in an attempt to be civil. "Yes, there is." he says with a gesture toward the barracks, "Be quick."
"No thank you, just checking. Ya never know when it may hit you." Kevan grins again, either not noticing the near sneer or not caring.
Later...
"Hello Mr Barik, sir. Why the mask if I may ask? Religious requirement? Personal preference? I once wore a mask but that was when I was protesting a tax on fruit. Outrageous mayor went and put a 3 copper tax on all fruit. Who does that, right?" Kevan says making himself at home in one of the chairs.
Jaxom looks at Kevan as he starts to talk, looking away and rolling his eyes when he hears the details.
Once Kevan sits Jaxom nods to Alden and takes a seat to the outside of the group. He doesn't speak.
Eochaidh takes a seat as well.
Alden gives a courteous nod to Lord Barik. ”Greetings, and thank you for your hospitality. I am Alden Cooperson, of Erastil. My companions have dubbed me spokesman for our party. I hope that we may negotiate in good faith, and find mutually beneficial cooperation with each other.” He pauses a moment, then takes a seat alongside his friends.
Rabbit doesn't sit-- instead, he stands behind and next to Alden's chair, hands folded behind him, face schooled to the pleasant blankness of a person whose welfare depends on not offending those above him. It's a marked contrast to Kevan's cheerful insouciance.
But the decor reminds him so much of Mistress Morus's home...
He bows to their host, much deeper than any of the nods from the rest of the party. "I can pour drinks if you wish, your lordship," he says softly-- it seems there are no other servants present, after all.
"I am not always myself." Barik explains to Kevan's question in a rushed clip, "Since the world broke the stress has made me almost mad. I cannot control my features as I once could. I find this is necessary."
He clears his throat. Taking a measured breath. "Thankfully my ears and throat obey me, for the most part."
At Alden's words he gives a slight chuckle. "Of course. Of course good pal-a-din." he says in a dulcet tone that stretches his syllables, "I am nu-thin if not an ho-nest biz-ness-man. True-lee, this is my ele-ment far more than to lead a ci-tee. Too many hard choices in that. You never please every-one."
With another short chuckle he turns to glance past Alden to Rabbit. "My my my..." he quickly titters, "How fate has smiled on Morus' favorite pet." He takes a few steps around his desk, bending forward to leer down at Rabbit. "Good show!" he barks in delight, "No one has ever escaped from her clutches! Not and lived more than a year! Good show little one! I would never ask you to pour drinks again! Allow me! Allow me."
He moves to the cabinet, shuffling a few glass decanters about before choosing one. "My favorite." he says in a rich, even tone, "Eight year old scotch. Not for everyone, but I have shared it on all my most important dealings." Collecting glasses onto a tray he begins to pour out a glass for each of you and himself. Then parades it before each of you in turn before returning to sit behind his desk with the remaining glasses.
"I've seen what you mean about running a city. Mayors seem to turn into petty tyrants they do. Always making rules and laws. It's almost enough that an honest halfling can't make a living." Kevan says in response to the running a city quote.
Jaxom declines the drink. "No alcohol for me thank you."
Alden accepts the drink, but instead of sipping from it, he sets it on the table in front of him. "Thank you," he says to Lord Barik.
"Since you addressed us a fellow shard bearers, and your shard joined with ours through no action on our part, it is clear you are either currently in possession of the gem, or else you know where it is. Is that correct, sir?" Alden asks, in a polite, but nearly emotionless tone.
With another short chuckle he turns to glance past Alden to Rabbit. "My my my..." he quickly titters, "How fate has smiled on Morus' favorite pet." He takes a few steps around his desk, bending forward to leer down at Rabbit. "Good show!" he barks in delight, "No one has ever escaped from her clutches! Not and lived more than a year! Good show little one! I would never ask you to pour drinks again! Allow me! Allow me."
Rabbit freezes.
Eyes wide, heart convulsing in his throat. He hasn't heard that name in over a year and this man immediately recognized him. After what feels like a subjective eternity, while cold sweat trickles slowly down his spine, Rabbit finally manages a brittle smile up at the man, a nod of his head, and slinks more fully behind Alden's chair.
His pulse takes a near minute to slow, during which the urge to flee is nigh-overwhelming. Finally the dull roar in his ears stops and he is able to focus on what's being said. Courtesies, still. Offers of drinks accepted, or not.
Now what was this about the mask? His mind seizes on the challenge of it, grateful for a distraction.
Noticing Rabbits very intense reaction the man opposite the desk sits back in his chair to appear more at ease. "There there, it is as I told you gentle halfling." he begins in soothing tones, "I meant every word I said. It is a truimph that you have escaped her. A triumph I say again. A triumph you may yet even add to."
Eochaidh watches the man and his changing speech closely. There were many conditions that could effect a man's speech, but this was most likely an illness of the mind. While Barik's inflections, tone, and pacing were varied each seemed to come naturally. He seemed to be enjoying each switch and leaning into them.
He was either eccentric, mad, or a little of both. His linguistic talent was to be marveled at all the same.
Following his words to Rabbit he quickly downs the drink Jaxon did not take in one pull. Then follows it with Rabbit's as well. He gives a satisfied exhale and continues.
"I do, in fact, know where the shard fell." he says calmly and at a measured pace, "In the crypt, with the ghouls. You see, we have a large populace here. Well, had would be more appropriate. There was not enough food. Some people took to eating... carrion. Even other people when that would not suffice, or when they turned. We managed to keep them contained with defense and the ballistae, but sadly most of our guards would end up ghouls themselves if we tried to clear them out. The... first attempt proved that well enough."
He washed his hands before him, fretted, and then sipped his own drink.
Kevan accepts the drink. After pausing for a moment and seeing the fellow drink he says, "Thank you. To our host." Then he raises his cup in salute to Barik and takes a drink himself. He wants to stay wary so he is not going to gulp it down or anything.
"Oooo, ghouls, that sounds exciting," Kevan responds looking at his comrades with big excited eyes.
"How many ghouls are there?" Alden asks. "You said a 'large populace'. Are you speaking of a dozen, a hundred, or a thousand?"
The halfling doesn't exactly breathe easier at Barik's further words, but he at least manages a less forced-looking nod. He eyes the drinks suddenly wishing he could slam something alcoholic himself (not that he has terribly much experience doing that, having never tasted anything stronger than some honeyed wine), then blinks as the conversation veers towards the undead.
"Oh no," he blurts in response to the revelations about the ghouls. "How terrible for you all. Do your people yet have any clerics among you?"
"Unfortunately I don't know anything about ghouls so any information you can provide us would be greatly appreciated."
Barik wrung his hands at Alden's question, seemingly troubled. "Well, large compared to your own shard perhaps. I should explain." he began in a pained tone, "We were once over two hundred. Now our numbers are... considerable less. You see, we did not have food for all. When it became clear that there would not be enough to survive our first winter... choices had to be made. Those with valuable skills and those who served the city, of course, were spared. Among the rest, there was a lottery. Not all accepted that. There were murders and cannibalism."
His tone then turned grim as he continued. For once his change in speech seemed normal in it's shift. "We believe there were three in the graveyard at first. A well to do merchant and two... consorts. They must have been feeding on carrion." he began, "But the man... no the ghoul, sent his two consorts toward a boarding house. With the intent to make more. They were successful. That was one of the burned buildings you saw on your way here. We lost more than twenty people that night."
He lifts the drink Eochaidh had refused, and his hand shakes as he remembers the events. After a moment and a small spill he sets it back down without taking a sip. "We believed there were twelve when we sent in our cleric and some of my best men. I am not certain how many were turned, or how many they cut down. The only man who escaped was... unable to speak. How he managed to crawl out we don't know." he explained in a tremble of words, "Not exciting. Not to face an enemy who can paralyze you with a touch. That can infect you with their rot, turning you into one if you die of it."
His chin dipped, the man looking down at his desk and the spillage. "I can make you an offer." he began slowly and in a deep voice, "Help us. Save my people from living in fear. Even now a man or woman will go missing every so often. If you can I will gladly retire in my mansion, and leave the city in your hands."
”Do you have any stores of alchemist fire, lamp oil, or pitch?” Alden asks. ”Have you tried purging the cemetery itself with fire?”
Jaxom considers what is being asked. "How many people still live here? We have some food, enough for ourselves.... but not a huge excess."
"Alden? What do you know of ghouls? Their touch paralyzes? Wounds rot? Are they hard to destroy? Does sunlight affect them? Can they be lured out? Can they climb trees? Maybe we could dig traps and lure them in to them? Fire the pits once they fall?"
"Unfortunately, not much. I've spent most of my life farming," Alden replies. "Can you tell us anything else about the ghouls?" he asks Barik. "Are they strong? Does sunlight harm them? Do they attack in packs, or are do they hunt alone? How often are they encountered outside the cemetary?"
For all his talk to this point Barik simply raises his hands in surrender to the questions and shakes his head. Though after a moment he adds one comment. "That's all I know of ghouls." he cautions, "As for exactly how many people are left... that is priviledged information. While you are potential allies I might be willing to pass leadership to, you are potentially antagonistic to my interests as well."
To the others Eochaidh says, "From what Barik said they don't know how many there are. They didn't know there were ghouls, they lost twenty people in the boarding house, they lost the soldiers and cleric that were sent into the cemetery to eliminate the ghouls, and they lose "a man or woman every so often", so the number of ghouls could be in the dozens. A formidable force. I wish we knew if they were mindless and could be lured and trapped as Jaxom suggested."
"Wild animals they are so of course we can trap them. We'll need silver weapons. Mr Barik, do you have any silver weapons we could have?" Then he pauses and looks about at the others, "We of course are going to help the town. They are besieged by monsters." Then turning back to mayor/leader of the town. "I have heard they have trouble with salt as well, we will likely need a pound or two of that. Do you have any holy things or a cleric who survived? I of course am just going off of what Dr McCaskill and I dealt with. There could be different breeds of the things and a good priest might help us round out our knowledge. I don't know, I think we could get started tomorrow morning. Of course luring them out to a trap would take bait." Looking back at Barik he asks, "You don't by chance have any good runners do you? Rabbit and I have short legs, Alden can't run anywhere in that heavy armor, Jaxom here can punch through a wall but he's slower than my little sister, and Eochaaidh, well he's the contemplative type. I don't know if he's ever run in his life. So, if you had a good sprinter that would be great. Oh, and garlic, we'll need lots of garlic." Kevan finishes looking at Barik with his big grin.
Jaxom watches and listens. He lets Kevan's ramblings go by without taking serious notice. "It's not a question of allies. We are joined now. If the ghouls over-run this area they will move over to us and continue. They need to be destroyed. We have other, powerful allies but their help in this would likely be nothing but possible knowledge that we currently lack. As to whether or not we would be antagonistic? That's an odd choice of wording. Your town and your men.... They are your town and your men. We aren't conquerors!"
"If ghouls are stupid undead, luring them to a trap should be easy. Where you have your men posted would be a good spot to create a trap. We'll add a fenced square and dig a pit there. Cover it, and open the fence so they can move into that area. I could go into the graveyard then and try to find them, make noise and run back once they notice me. With a plank over the cover of the pit that can be withdrawn, and a rope to quickly climb over the fence.... I escape and the ghouls fall into the pit. Throw in some burning oil...."
"Might have to run it several times depending on how many of the undead creatures there are. What do you think?"
Rabbit has made no special study of the undead-- Mistress Morus knew of demons, and devils, and plants primarily-- but he struggles to think of any scrap of information he's ever heard...
"Does anyone back in our own village know anything about undead, do you suppose? Tel Beys, maybe? She traveled a lot..." he asks the others hesitantly.
"Where and when do the ghouls typically hunt their prey?" Alden asks Barik. "Is that area patrolled, or is it avoided or barricaded?"
Berik steeples his hands. After a moment's calm he begins anew. "I told you that the lead ghoul, he sent his two... consorts into a boarding house to turn all those inside? They are not stupid creatures. Not like animals." He cants his head to better look at Kevan, "Did you think me a stupid creature?" His voice was calm itself, even and smooth.
"As to where they get ahold of people we do not know." he continued with a pensive tone, "It may not even be the ghouls for all we know. One day a person will just go missing, with no trace left behind."
It is then that Tymos speaks up, perhaps reminding everyone he was still present. "If you would wish to confer with your people." he said flatly, "I can escort you back to our agreed upon destination. The ghouls will keep for now. We still have a fair number of people for them to abscond with."
Alden nods in acknowledgment of Tymos' suggestion, though his face makes it clear he feels less than enthusiastic about it.
"If one has only a day to cut down a copse of trees, one would be wise to spend the morning sharpening one's axe. As much as I dislike the idea of leaving people at the mercy of these foul creatures a moment longer, if we rush in unprepared, we will likely become their next meal or worse, add our numbers to theirs."
Jaxom considers the words. He has been staying back, letting the others, but.... "'no trace left behind'? Curious. Even intelligent undead might leave blood, or damage from the fight? They didn't even leave such a trace? And no footprints? No dirt from their graves?"
"No trace of the victim." Tymos corrects with a thin smile, seemingly happy to elaborate for his lord. "But then the ghouls must be licking their plates."