Bowen blinks, "What there was more?"
Bowen blinks, "What there was more?"
"Elderwood moss,... Blackroot...
"I think we have been at this a bit to long my friend.'
"We can't go to town, the foreman would skin us alive," says one of the jacks, "But we got that Blackroot for you like you asked."
"We can't go to town, the foreman would skin us alive," says one of the jacks, "But we got that Blackroot for you like you asked."
"Good. Keep your skins. We'll take it to town immediately. Has there been any word of trouble en route?"
"Just these storms coming off the mountain," grumbles one of the Jacks, "They don't seem natural. Its the wrong time of the year for them. Throws our work all off schedule."
"Just these storms coming off the mountain," grumbles one of the Jacks, "They don't seem natural. Its the wrong time of the year for them. Throws our work all off schedule."
"Storms? Well, then we better get going before they start."
"I think we best get moving home. No rest for the weary."
The storms are not currently threatening, though the clouds still look ominous near the mountains. With blackroot and eldermoss in hand, the companions head back towards town. Things are much as they left it, but when they hand the ingredients over to the healer, she recieves it gladly. Apparently another two have died in the last two days and another fifteen are down sick.
"Too many burials lately for such a small town," she says ruefully, "One yesterday and another today and three or four more could join them quick enough. Still, I should be able to have some medicine made by tomorrow."
The storms are not currently threatening, though the clouds still look ominous near the mountains. With blackroot and eldermoss in hand, the companions head back towards town. Things are much as they left it, but when they hand the ingredients over to the healer, she recieves it gladly. Apparently another two have died in the last two days and another fifteen are down sick.
"Too many burials lately for such a small town," she says ruefully, "One yesterday and another today and three or four more could join them quick enough. Still, I should be able to have some medicine made by tomorrow."
"Well, our work here is done," says Rall with a self-satisfied grin. Smiling slyly at the healer he adds, "We'll be getting back to the tavern. You could stop by later to thank us properly, perhaps."
Bowen follows Rall to the Duck for a drink.
"I think after a drink or two I may help with the digging..."
News spreads quickly of the medicine being prepared and Bowen and Rall find themselves well cared for at the tavern.
Ildri, meanwhile, notices the young boy she had tried to talk to a few days earlier, watching her from a safe distance. He looks dirtier and more bedraggled and she wonders whether he has eaten since she last saw him.
Ildri will slip over to the boy and offer him a handfull of trail mix saying, "I like the chocolate bits the best, care to trysome?"
It isn't easy but Bowen finds the chance to slip away when he mentions to a barmaid that Rall's Birthday is tomorrow. After slipping out of the Sitting Duck Bowen works his way to the cemetery to see if the grave digger would mind some help.
The boy, Savram Vade, takes the chocolate and wordlessly allows Ildri to sit by him. He gulps it down quickly, confirming the suspicion he hasn't eaten in a while.
-meanwhile-
As Bowen approaches the cemetery, the funeral is just wrapping up. The grave-digger, Shavaros Vade, a thin, middle aged man with dark black hair and a well trimmed beard, eyes him suspiciously as Bowen loiters after the mourners head back south to town.
Ildri sits quitely and waits, offering more of her snack each time the boy finishes a handful.
Ildri sits quitely and waits, offering more of her snack each time the boy finishes a handful.
Savram manages to finish quite a bit of the mix before he finally falls sound asleep, leaning up against Ildri. He seems clearly exhausted and the food was all that it took to cause his body to finally turn itself off.
Bowen kneels before the grave and gives a small prayer for Sarenrae to guide the deceased into the next life.
"Mr. Vade, I came to offer my arms to help with the work. If you have a shovel I'll do the work."
In any case, Rall enjoys his birthday gift from Bowen.
In any case, Rall enjoys his birthday gift from Bowen.
Bowen kneels before the grave and gives a small prayer for Sarenrae to guide the deceased into the next life.
"Mr. Vade, I came to offer my arms to help with the work. If you have a shovel I'll do the work."
Vade looks hard at Bowen for a moment and then says, "No thanks, I can do it just fine."
Ildri will craddle the boy and catch some rest herself.
1d20+4
Bowen can tell that Vade would really like Bowen to leave. As if there is something he wants to do, but he can't do it while the ranger is around.
Meanwhile, at the Sitting Duck, the party continues for as long as Rall is willing to stay. Ildri might get more sleep in her inn room as its getting pretty noisy in the 'Duck.'
Confused for a moment Bowen again offers his help, “No really it is the least I can do. I fear that my slowness in bringing back the ingredients for the healer may have caused some of these deaths. I would like to lend my hand in letting putting these people to rest.”
Bowen unstraps his pack and grabs the spade determined to help not understanding why the man doesn’t want his help.
The grave digger says nothing as Bowen helps him fill in the hole where the casket now lies. But as they work, Bowen truly senses the man was not ready to fill in the grave and resents being made to do so.
Over the forest to the west, lightning strikes and the sky looks blacker than ever. The forest is experiencing a bad storm, but it is moving slowly, almost hovering, in fact, above the forest.
Bowen finishes helping to fill in the grave and Vade, the job done, stomps off moodily.
Bowen pulls out his flask and takes a swig or he tries to till he realizes his flask is empty. Muttering to himself he puts it away, says a small prayer for the departed and makes his way back to town wondering why Vade was so moody.
All through the night, the air is filled with the sound of distant thunder.
As morning dawns, it does so with shouts and cries. A lone figure, screaming hoarsely in terror, stumbles through the streets, yelling for help. His cries rouse all from their beds.
Ildri notices the young Vade boy continues to sleep on the floor near her bed.
Rall straps his sword on and rushes outside making sure to glance back at the building he came from in case he didn't sleep in his own bed last night. He gets in front of the lone figure and tries to grab him by both shoulders.
Hearing the commotion Bowen grabs his quiver and bow and leaves his room at the Goos'n'Gander to see what the cause is.
Goos'n'Gander
The figure crying out in the streets is one of the Lumber foremen. He is soaking wet and covered in mud.
"They've killed them all! Monsters came with the storm! I had to flee! A slaughterhouse. They've killed them all! Monsters..."
Over and over he shouts the same thing hysterically.
The sheriff arrives moments after Rall and Bowen is on the scene not long after. Soon all the street is filled with onlookers.
The figure crying out in the streets is one of the Lumber foremen. He is soaking wet and covered in mud.
"They've killed them all! Monsters came with the storm! I had to flee! A slaughterhouse. They've killed them all! Monsters..."
Over and over he shouts the same thing hysterically.
The sheriff arrives moments after Rall and Bowen is on the scene not long after. Soon all the street is filled with onlookers.
"Get it together, man," says Rall slapping the foreman.
Rall's slap momentarily stuns the foreman and seems to surprise several of the onlookers.
"Are you saying that your camp was attacked?" asks the sherrif.
Bowen listens to the that Bowen listens to the what the man has to say wondering what the small town will face next.
Rall's slap momentarily stuns the foreman and seems to surprise several of the onlookers.
"Are you saying that your camp was attacked?" asks the sherrif.
"Oh, is that what he was saying?" asks Rall. "Maybe the hysteria was justified then. Sorry about the slap. So, uhhh, what kind of monsters?"
"It was dark and they were small, but whatever they were, it was enough to take out a whole camp of strong loggers!"
Before looking to Rall for any sort of acknowledgment Bowen turns to the Sheriff, “I’ll go with Rall to see what the may have happened.”
I suggest we let this one rest in peace.
