"If Elara was going to turn to a zombie, Thumpy, I think she would've done so by now. Three months is a long time to be dead. But I do think we should bury her. She deserved that much. Can you dig me a grave for her?" Tatsu asks.
"Oh I can do that. I'm good at digging. I'll look for something to dig with. Be right back."
The dwarf goes upstairs to look.
Making their way up the stairs Clovis and Kidlat begin searching for the kids. About 50 feets away, in the Wood they here the sound talking and the occasional chuckle.
Thorin begins the search for something, anything to be used for the digging of Elara's grave. While he finds no tools, he does find some lumber in good condidtion, aswell as the metal frames of children beds. He belives he can rig somthing up.
Nudging Kidlat
"That could be them. Let's go."
Seeing Thumpy begin to make a shovel out of scraps, Tatsu goes over to him and gently touches his shoulder. "Thumpy, stop. Stay here and watch the others. I am going back to the general store and buy a shovel. I'll be back in a little bit. If you get into trouble, have Clovis signal me again like he did before."
She turns to Ser and Lia and says, "Stay with Thumpy. Clovis and Kidlat can handle their little friends and I am going to get a shovel."
Then she heads out back to town, muttering to herself as she goes, "you would think they would include that in an adventurer's kit".
Nudging Kidlat
"That could be them. Let's go."
"Oh, alright! Wait for me!"
"Okay. Thanks Tatsu."
Thumpy plops down on the grass and waits.
Tatsu takes off toward town, while Clovis an Kidlat head into the Wood.
Not long after entering the wood two see the kids setting up a large make shift tent.
Ser is going to stand nearby Thumpy and keep watch,
"Interesting turn of events eh?"
Clovis ambles out of the woods and waits for the kids to notice him.
"Hey - you knew we couldn't resist. How's it going?"
The children's attention is instantly drawn to the unusual pair. They smile, especially the older Mikra. But you can also tell, more so with Kimi, are disappointed to see you.
"Hi Clovis, Hi Kilat" Mikra says slowly stubbling with Kidlats name.
Kimi walks over as the others go back to setting up the tent and the rest of camp.
"So what brings you two here?" Her tone happy but angery at the same time.
"I thought we were going to keep this a secret" her green eyes tear into the halfing.
"It is. I spat. You know me and Kidlat better than that. C'mon Kimi. Kidlat's my blood brother. He guessed. Anyways, came to warn you about something."
He looks around and sits down, looking ashamed.
"Gotta a confession to make. We were followed. Kidlat's crush has mean tracking skills. You can get back to town before she spots you if you move fast."
A unified "NO" hits the halflings ears as the kids group togther.
"W... we're not going anywhere" Hollin, the freckle faced boy, steps infront of Kimi.
"If we do that we'd be chickenin' outta our dare" The pale Savram peeks out from behind the others.
Kimi stands in the back shacking her head as her friends speak their minds. "We had a dare Clovis, something we can't back out on. If anything you should leave here. You promised not to let anyone out, and if you leave now Kidlat's girlfriend won't find out we're here."
"It was bad enough that we told you, but we trusted you. Both of you that you wouldn't follow or tell. If we get found out we lose the dare and we won't get no respect" Her green eyes fierce and determined as she speaks.
"I get that, I really do. You're right. C'mon Kidlat."
Clovis pulls Kidlat out of the way and heads out of sight and hearing distance.
"I don't often say this, but I really messed that up. You've got the brains. Now what we gonna do?"
He kicks an inoffensive tree to relieve some of his feelings, red with anger at himself for not being smarter.
"Clovis, I may know a lot of things but acting grown-up is giving me a lot of headaches. I say let Kimi and her friends have their fun. They shouldn't be bothered by monsters. I mean we'll be clearing the way for them once we get on our way to find those ingredients in the vale."
Tatsu arrives in town and makes her way back to the Goose'n'Gander. Opening the door she finds the gnome dusting the psudodragon.
He casts his eye at the now open door "Ah didja come back to purchace those maps", he says enthusiasticly. He quickly dives under the counter and retrieves the maps.
"An since it's only you I'll give you a discount, only 3 gold!"
"Clovis, I may know a lot of things but acting grown-up is giving me a lot of headaches. I say let Kimi and her friends have their fun. They shouldn't be bothered by monsters. I mean we'll be clearing the way for them once we get on our way to find those ingredients in the vale."
"Yeah..." Clovis doesn't sound convinced and continues to kick the tree.
At the general store-
Tatsu smiles at the shopkeeper, amused by his persistance, "No, thank you. But I would like buy a couple of shovels." She narrows her eyes and puts her hand in front of her mouth, conspiritorally, "we found some buried treasure." She pauses for a second and then laughs, "Just kidding. I am running some errands for the herbalist and we need to dig some roots up. Two shovels, please."
The gnome, a disappointed look on his face, jumps from his stool and retrieves the two shovels "That'll be 5 gold, plus a 2 gold tax"
"Hmmm...." She inspects the shovels. "I don't remember ever being charged a tax before, but I guess you have to answer to the Gravel, too, eh? Deal." She hands over the gold. "Thanks, mister. You've been a big help." She smiles at the gnome and takes the shovels and heads back to the burned out ruins. She takes the quickest way as to not burn any more daylight then she has to.
Laz
"Yeah..." Clovis doesn't sound convinced and continues to kick the tree.
"Careful there. You might hurt yourself."
"You know... this maybe a good time to practice our routines. No one here to see us... er... you mess up."
For Laz
Laz
** spoiler omitted **
Tatsu
For Laz** spoiler omitted **
Kidlat
Yes there are
For Laz and Clovis
Laz
As the last few hours of sun shine on the Hollow, Tatsu arrives, shovel in her hands.
Clovis and Tatsu exit the Wood. The halflings face is a mask of red, and Kidlat walks behind carring an assortment of flowers.
All the while Thorin, Ser and Lia disscuss the Wood, it's inhabitants, and the ruins that lay hidden within.
Tatsu
Tatsu tosses a shovel to Thorin and says, "Let's get to work, Thumpy. Sooner we get started, sooner we're done." She turns to the others. "Gentlemen, the night is fast approaching. There may or may not be a werewolf lurking around here. There are, I assume, Clovis, a bunch of kids who plan to camp out here for the night. None of us have rooms at the inn, except for Ser, who has that little "rent" problem, correct? So it looks like we're camping out here, too." She pauses. "Ser, Clovis, and Kidlat, see if you can find a suitable campsite. I don't have a tent, so I hope it doesn't rain. Well, I guess as a last resort, we could take shelter down in the cellar, but I would rather not, since we found a body down there. Thumpy and I are going to bury this lady, and give her the respect she deserved. If you guys could make a campfire, that would be nice, too." She pauses again and you can tell she is thinking about some stuff.
She turns to Clovis.
"Clovis, are those kids from the village or are they survivors from the fire? I mean, are they orphans? Do they have anyplace else to go? Are they out here for kicks or do they camp here a lot?"
She turns to Kidlat.
"Um, nice flowers. Are those for me? Kidlat, I appreciate the gesture, but I have got to dig a grave for a rotten corpse and this just isn't the time for schoolboy romantics. Let's complete this quest, save the villagers and then..... we'll see about anything else."
She turns to Ser and Thumpy.
"Can you guys think of anything else I might have forgotten? We need to work together if we are going to survive out here and save the village. So let's get to work."
She starts looking for a suitable burial site, one that isn't too hard to dig.
"They're village kids - and yeah - they have homes and no, they won't go to them, cos this is a major dare for them."
"And don't ask me to talk them into anything because I've already messed up once and there's only so much stupid a person should do in a day."
Clovis clumps off to find firewood.
"Yes, milady, the flowers are for you. And may I take the shovel. I'll go do the digging."
The dwarf methodically digs out the grave. His thick, overlong arms move soil and rock with ease.
"Um, I dunno, Tatsu. Let me think on it while I dig. I think better when I do stuff with my hands."
After finding a suitable plot Kidlat and Thorin get to work on digging. Clovis is joined by Lia at the wood line collecting wood for the fire. From in the wood a dim light can be seen, the fire from the childrens camp.
Ser and Tatsu find a decent camp site at the foot of the hill where the halfway house is located.
Clovis
As the two continue to collect timber "This doesn't make any since. Why would the people in town be suffering from blacksour taint? I mean if Tatsu's cousin is right the fungus doesn't even grow around here..." Lia wears a puzzled look on her brow.
Ser reports on the findings with tatsu, "We can take your camp kit and set it up, that way by the time you all finish we should be set to go."
"Sounds good, Ser. I don't like camping near the site of this mess, but at least those bastards won't tax us out here." She looks and him and smiles, chuckling a little bit as she does.
She helps Ser set up camp, gathers some firewood, and ignites a sunrod if it gets too dark for the boys digging the grave.
Since everyone else is occupied, Tatsu sits down in front of the fire and draw her cloak up around her. Every once and awhile, she draws in the dirt pictograms and an occasional dwarven rune. Anyone watching her can tell she is thinking about something.
"Lia and Thorin, Kidlat and Ser, Clovis and me, hmmm......" she mutters under her breath.
Ser nods and offers a smile while he ties some rope for the campsite posts. "yeah, sometimes I get the feeling that it's worse off for me as an elf." ser says as he looks towards the others. " We're all so together in this already and yet we hardly know each other. seems breakfast can go a long way." he chuckles and finishes up his work.
"Ah, the villagers may not appreciate your heritage, but trust me, our little group is going to be glad you're an elf before the night is over." She pauses. "Forgive my ignorance, but do you 'trance'? I've heard that some elfkin can keep watch and 'sleep' at the same time. I only ask because I am trying to figure out a way we can all rest, guard each other, and guard those village kids at the same time. Whatever ripped that poor lady's throat out may still be around."
Clovis shoots a hard stare at Lia. "That's right. That fungus doesn't grow around here."
Ambling back to the campfire with his armload of wood, he feeds twigs to the flames, watching them burn and finally asks Tatsu - "You think someone might be poisoning the wells deliberately?"
"You're much too paranoid, Clovis."
"I put it down to too much coffee." Kidlat tells Tatsu with a wink.
"Like I'd drink coffee..."
Clovis prods the fire again. "Hell maybe. I don't know stuff Kidlat. It doesn't make any sense to kill off the workforce either."
The halfling seems unusually subdued.
"So who would benefit from so much death? A necromancer, a servant of death, a necrophile, the list goes on."
In a much lower voice, "Do we have any of those in town?"
Kidlat is still shoveling. "Tell me if this is deep enough."
"We got greedy skinflints for sure. Maybe they figured zombies would cost less..."
Jumping down into the pit - "How much space is there above my head? If it's more than 2 and a half feet you're good to go. And you can help me out before you add the body."
Ser laughs "Who me? No, I am the kind of elf who enjoys their sleep." he grins and looks around to the others, "who gets first watch?"
Jumping down into the pit - "How much space is there above my head? If it's more than 2 and a half feet you're good to go. And you can help me out before you add the body."
"Wait! Hold still! I'll shovel in some dirt so we can find out! Ha ha ha!"
"We should use this in one of our routines, don't you agree?"
"No, I don't like the Gravel and his goons for poisoning the well. That doesn't make sense, unless he and his men just want the land. No, poisoning a well is a terrorist act and I think there is somebody in the woods who doesn't like the village. Either the woodsmen are cutting down their trees or spoiling their precious wilderness. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I think we are looking a druid of some kind. A crazy druid. But then, I don't have all the information." She looks around at the others.
"My cousin doesn't think that investigation is worth looking into. It brings us in direct conflict with the Gravel, who is guilty of neglect, if not directly responsible for the sickness. No, I think our efforts are better spent in collecting these ingredients and making sure the cure gets to the people." She pauses for a sec.
"But first, we need to get through tonight. I've got a bad feeling about this. Kids out on a dare, burned out house, slashed body. The only way we can protect them and us is by taking two watches. Lia, you and Ser have the best senses. You will be our scouts. I think you and Thumpy should set up watch halfway between the kids and us. That puts you in position to hear or see if there is trouble, like they get attacked and Thumpy is there to engage the enemy. Back here at camp, I will be watching the other group and tending the fire. If you hear trouble, you warn me, I wake the others. Halfway through the night, Clovis will take my place, Kidlat and Ser will take Lia's and Thumpy's. It is not optimal, but it should work. It would be better if we could get those brats to join our group, but based off Clovis's assessment, I don't think that is possible. Maybe I am being paranoid, I sure hope so. But something about this situation rubs me raw. Any questions or discussion? Then let's get this lady buried and get to work, or sleep."
Thumpy goes back to preparing the grave.
"Whew. This adventuring business is a lot more work than I thought it would be. I'm tired just listening to Tatsu talk!"