Desert Wind still twitches nervously as he watches the Pathfinders, but his head perks up as he seems to notice the smell of the oats.
Empty weapon cases and crates are scattered throughout the bare-bones armory. Dust outlines the faint shadows of swords and shields removed from their resting places.
It doesn't look like there's anything of value or use left here, though a thorough search could confirm it... more useful is probably the cart Bee sees next to the building. It has a broken axle, which is presumably why it was abandoned during the evacuation, but the Pathfinders might be able to repair it if they take the time.
Once repaired, a horse could pull it. Or two people, although it would be slower.
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"Well, I think we might have a solution on how to carry any remains - and these relics - back out with us," Bee reports after nosing around the armory for a moment. "There's an old wag-"
And that's as far as she gets before Qen immediately heads over to have a look and start tinkering with the thing.
"Uh...yeah, an old wagon. I'm sure Qen can fix it without any trouble at all. Now, if we can get Desert Wind calmed down, he can probably help pull it along. We'd have to travel on the roads if we use the wagon but it would be faster than walking...so I suppose the risk is worth it."
Bee considers what there is left to do and what she herself might be best suited to be doing. "Hmm...Macondi and Barak, you two seem to have a way with words and people. Maybe one of you can try to see to Desert Wind while Qen works on the wagon and the rest of us can finish looking around?"
Assuming there's enough time, Bee heads back into the armory to have a more thorough look around - just to make sure they don't miss anything important.
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"Hmm...Macondi and Barak, you two seem to have a way with words and people. Maybe one of you can try to see to Desert Wind while Qen works on the wagon and the rest of us can finish looking around?"
"Well, people at least. Not sure about horses. I can give it a try." Macondi sets the inn's sign down near the wagon so that it can be loaded in later.
"Who's a good horse. And a smart horse to not get eaten by undead."
Quadennillia gets the cart patched up in record time. It looks as good as new!
Barak and Macondi coax Desert Wind over with the oats, and get him to relax and look a little less twitchy. It seems he trusts the Pathfinders now, and they should have an easy time managing him--he could certainly pull the repaired wagon for them.
With all of the buildings around the town square searched, the next target is the college. Goldenflame College is a 10-minute walk south from Goldenflame itself. Goldenflame College was an institution dedicated to the study of art, history, literature, philosophy, and religion, where students could pursue myriad interests. Although most students were Iomedaean, all were welcome within Goldenflame College’s doors, so long as they were dedicated to the cause of good. The rise of Tar-Baphon seems to have led to the quick fall of the town of Goldenflame as well as its college, so this building has been long abandoned, apart from occasional vermin and scavengers.
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. Barak and Aztryx recognize the pre-Cheliax style that was popular in Vellumis.
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Aztryx also tries to befriend the horse.
"Hmmm... it seems I entered the right profession and truly should've stayed away from my father's horses. It's a good thing you both seem to have it under your control" he says to Barak and Macondi, with obvious disappointment in himself, and a bit of envy that the two succeeded in taming the animal.
Aztryx notices the construction of the wagon, and shakes his head more from than dread than just disapproval.
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Macondi does his best to help hitch up Desert Wind to the wagon. Then helps load up the inn sign and the remains of the fallen that they are taking with them. "We can at least try and get you back to civilization and to a proper burial."
On the way to the college, Macondi walks along with the horse and improvised hearse. He keeps his shield in hand this time and continues to stay watchful for any more undead.
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Bee keeps a cautious watch as the group, horse and wagon in tow, makes its way over to the college grounds. As they reach the entrance, she considers the remnants of the stained-glass window for a moment before giving a respectful bow.
"The Inheritor and her followers are allies of the Sun. It's sad to see what's become of her school..."
Assuming that no dangers make themselves known, Bee carefully approaches the door. After looking it over for a moment for any signs of trickery, she attempts to open it.
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"We can at least try and get you back to civilization and to a proper burial."
"Yes, you are right. We should at least try." He keeps nodding his head, as if trying to convince himself.
Aztryx takes the broken piece of armor and wraps it in a hankerchief. He goes over to the cart and takes the melted holy symbol. He wraps that in stationery from his writing kit. He stores these items in his backpack.
He checks on Mr Fewocious and gives him some food. Then he follows Good-News Bee.
While Good-News Bee doesn't catch sight of any danger, she does spot something that probably makes her pause: A body lying face down near the door.
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.
Someone might...
examine the notebook?
examine the body?
examine the clothing?
Macondi remembers that Goldenflame college housed a famous statue that would certainly qualify as a valuable historic relic, though one difficult to transport. It was in the dean's quarters... or possible in the main hall on the first floor?
Heather determines that the body is that of a halfling woman.
No defensive wounds, it looks like she was a noncombatant attempting to flee when her assailant caught up from behind and she never made it inside the building.
"Rowr..."
Scouty senses his friend's unease and sticks close.
While the notebook has been exposed to the elements for long enough that its contents are damaged, Macondi is able to determine that the esoteric diagrams within are shorthand notes from some kind of field research.
The others recognize, once they get past the damaged state, a style of dress favored by priests and adherents of Iomedae.
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Aztryx pulls out a stationary out of his writing set and starts writing down something. When he's finished he gives his sheet to Barak and says "None of them do, although there are two whose religions weren't mentioned."
"Goldenflame College was said to have documented the history of both Lastwall and the Church of Iomedae in this region. It has also collected relics and stories from this area. We were sent to this school to retrieve those relics and stories." He pauses and thinks to himself, then says "If they knew what was inside this school, they may have tried to come and rescue or defend what they could. I wouldn't be surprised if we found them or their remains inside."
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"You're a good soul Macondi and I recognize that. But considering where we are right now, we're bound to encounter many more dead bodies. I doubt if we can carry them all back?"
"How I wish we could give them all a proper burial. But considering that..." pointing at the horizon, where a sea of undead slowly crawls towards them "I suggest we quickly conclude our business here and carry those whom we were tasked to bring back... if we can."
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.
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"One door at a time?" Bee asks quietly as the group begin to make their way inside the entrance hall. She turns to her immediate left and carefully makes her way over to the doors at the end of the short hall.
She gives the door a once-over but waits to make sure her allies have no objections - or have the chance to examine the door themselves - before she attempts to open it.
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.
Qen spots a faint glint of metal at the bottom of the hole. The collapsed floor and pile of furniture would provide a lot of hand- and footholds and a sloping descent, so climbing down (and back up) would probably be really easy , but searching the sludgy pit might take some time.
She also realizes that some of the remaining floorboards are also in danger of giving way, and that anyone walking on them may end up in the pit regardless.
The next room looks like it was once a 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 the south.
Barak and Aztryx both hear soft sobbing coming from under the sofa.
The sobbing stops abruptly. "Pathfinders?" The sofa jumps up a few inches, as though somebody just bumped their head on the underside.
A man in very frayed and dirty padded armor wriggles partway out, holding his head. "Are you really? Really?"
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"Oh hey, a live one," Macondi says. "Do you know where the dean's office is?"
"Wait, umm. Hi. Yes. Pathfinders. Were here looking for anyone still living. And collecting any historical artifacts we can. Like the statue that should be around here somewhere. Maybe at the dean's office. Or out in that row of statues in the central room. That might make more sense." Macondi looks back out the door of the room towards the central area. Then turns back. "Are you injured? We might be able to help if you are."
The man, a half-orc, scrambles to his feet. "Larraz Virtanne, of the Pathfinder Society. Sir.
"I've been hiding here for months. My team was overwhelmed and separated by a horde of undead. I fled to this building and I've been hiding here since. Nobody's ever come back, and there are always undead everywhere! Have you seen any of my teammates? Gibb Potsmasher, Kailli Thimbleberry, and Osprey Pierces the Tide? Or--or my horse, Desert Wind?"
He looks at Macondi, a little lost. "Big statue in the dean's chamber? Yeah, I've seen it. It's a representation of Jingh, an iophanite angel and emissary of Iomedae... though if you didn't know that it looks like a chariot wheel that's on fire. That might be why they don't have it in the open? Uh, biggest bedroom, upstairs, directly across from the study room with the spiral staircase. You can't miss it, because the doors have been torn off the hinges."
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"Or--or my horse, Desert Wind?"
Macondi gets an excited expression for a second. "Oh, yes. The horse." Then he thinks for a second. "Wait. There were two horses. One was undead and we had to kill it. Again." Macondi looks over to Heather. "Desert Wind is the one we have hitched to the wagon now, right?"
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"It is great to see you alive sir Larraz." Aztryx insists that he have something to eat.
"We found your horse's saddle. I'm uncertain about the fate of your horse. We slew an undead horse, and have a live one downstairs. You can check for yourself."
"Barak over here found your friend's wayfinder. It belongs to Gibb Potsmasher. I'm afraid he's no longer with us. We are in fact, searching for you and other Pathfinders who are misisng."
"Are you able to stand? Fight?"
Aztryx looks out the window, in the direction of where they'd last seen the undead horde.
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Bee is silent for a moment and then gently holds up the bloodstained notebook they'd found just outside the building's entrance. "We're trying to recover the missing...or at least their personal effects. I'm sorry, but we found this outside, next to a victim of the undead. Do you know who it belonged to?"