The Light is Fading IC

[Henry the 57th]

Orange light shines down on a dying world.

A small caravan makes its way down a worn dirt road as the sun slowly dwindles in the sky, hooves and wheels kicking up small clouds of dust. Surrounding the three wagons on all sides, stretching as far as the eye can, is the Grass Sea of the Ki. For millennia the idyllic rolling plains have played host to millions from the largest to the smallest to the tiny Ki nature spirits said to watch over it all. Once it was an endless stretch of verdant green of gold grasses swaying gently in a soft summer breeze, welcoming the explorer, the wanderer, and the weary with open arms. No longer.

The grassland that now engulfs the few travelers that pass through it is green, with all traces of the golden stalks that used to grow here wiped away. Ugly patches of brown mar vast sections the landscape as withered plants hang limply or coat the ground like corpses. Though it is spring, few plants sprout seeds. Little noise beyond that of the caravan itself can be heard. Even the chirping of night insects is little more than occasional lonely squeak as foolhardy cricket calls out into the night. No birds can be seen in the skies, no small creatures scamper to get out of the wagons’ way. A light breeze rustles the grass, and little more.

Three wagons make their way down the ancient path, pulled by six weary-looking donkeys. Two are little more than carts covered with a heavy white cloth, bringing precious shipments of foodstuffs to Kison from one of countless small farming villages that litter the plains’ fertile soil. Another bears crude wooden seats a rough cloth roof, carrying two men in the hardy clothing of farmers and an elderly woman in light robes bearing a small symbol of Yvaine. Three men, one middle aged and two younger, lightly guide their donkeys along the path. Two more men in hardened leathers and bearing scabbards ride horses ahead of the wagon train.

One of those men on horseback glances to the west at the slowly dying light, then to the grasslands that surround them. He pulls back on the reins of his horse, falling in beside the old man driving the lead wagon. The two exchange brief words, and the old man nods before spurring the draft animals on. Though they make brief noises of protest, the beasts do as they are bid, and the wagons slowly pick up speed. Even as they do the sun itself slips below the horizon, leaving them all but a few minutes of its last embers before night arrives. But very soon the caravan will reach the farming village of Lerest, where they can find a safer place to lay their heads for the night before moving on to the great city of Kison in the morning.

Or, so they hope.

Time to make your in character introductions. What are you doing? Where are you? In a wagon, on a mount, walking on your own? Feel free to make up names for your fellow travelers, or I can supply them.

Oh, and when you're done with that, give me a Perception check.

[DaOldeWolf]

Amanaki walks along the caravans trying to enjoy the faint breeze. It wasn't much but he was happy there still was something there left to enjoy. Amanaki had been enjoying his brief period in the caravan. He usually didn't get to do much except heal some of the injuries taken along the way. Despite the apparent interest in the well being of the people in the caravan, Amanaki remained in isolation. He preferred to be by himself when he wasn't needed to keep his identity as a kitsune hidden and his magical capabilities hidden from the rest.

Hemprich was sitting on Amanaki´s shoulder hating every second of it. He wanted to return inside a wagon. Amanaki still preferred to walk outside since it was easier to prevent interaction while walking on the outside.

[roll0]

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

She was at the near front of the caravan, she had joined the caravan out of curiosity - while confident of making the trip on her own she was unfamiliar with dealing with others and wanted to learn more. Still it had been a fairly easy sell to the caravan master, the ability to cleanse food was of vital importance she had noted, even if the man had been dubious about 'Del' as she had once named her Roc companion to him - the first word that popped into her head, in truth they respected each other and got along but as it was taxing they rarely talked via magic these days.

Del was far above her location hunting smaller creatures in the air, she should have a feast that night, or at least not have to worry about the Roc's appetite - if she did she would hunt herself for both.

Meanwhile she considered the flora and fauna here for danger along with any issues that might arise from the terrain.


Perception: [roll0]

To know about the areas wildlife:
Knowledge Nature: [roll1]

To know about the area:
Knowledge Geography: [roll2]

Edit: ... ok I remember the roller being better than this, I am going to assume that means:
Perception: 21
Knowledge Nature: 20
Knowledge Geography: 15

As otherwise the rolls are not possible.

[Bryconium]

As far as Isabella was concerned, the only good thing about this caravan was that it was going to Kison. The constant stares and whispers about her god were enough to drive her mad, and she could feel the scorn in the eyes of her "compatriots". Normally the lion doesn't concern herself with the opinions of the sheep, but the ceaseless judgement was starting to get to her. Besides, she was the only lion here; if the sheep should decide that she was more trouble than she was worth, she would die. So tried her best to be helpful, hunting and guarding the caravan. So far only one incident had truly tested her patience, when some green recruit named Jared Gorthas got drunk and decided to "educate" her on how things were. Much as she wanted to crush his arrogant skull with her flail, she only held him down till his superiors arrived. And they took their sweet time coming to her aid. Though they might be technically on the same side, old prejudices time hard, and Isabella could tell she wasn't welcome here.

Currently she was walking besides one of the carts, scanning the horizon for any signs of trouble, bow at the ready.

[roll0]
...Wow...

[HerbertWest]

Robert had found himself falling in pace with the rear of the caravan, the large, plate-mail clad man both keeping an eye on the rear, and grateful for the slower pace he could afford due to the worn out animals pulling the last wagon. His long hair was pulled back and out of the way to allow for what little breeze there was to cool his neck. During the trek to Lerest, Robert had taken to people watching as a way to pass the time, as most of his traveling companions seemed to be avoiding conversations with one another. The woman devoted to Cebaal was a curious one, in his mind, though with the world in crisis, he didn't much care who his traveling companions were, so long as their actions did not become atrocities.

Robert had found conversations with the two farmers, Griswold and Enoch, to be interesting, or at least, entertaining. While he knew very little of the harvest, other than what tithe his citizens had bequeathed to his household, he found their earnestness and work ethic to be testaments to their character. The men that he had surmised were guarding the caravan looked upon his arms and armor with a covetous eye, but so far had thought better of speaking of it aloud. Robert hoped that silence wouldn't end when they arrived in Kison; he knew how valuable they were, and what men would give to possess them.

As the sun began to fade out of the sky, Robert murmured a prayer to Solarion, and looked forward to the evening's sleep in Lerest.


Perception: [roll0]

[Athaleon]

Damiel trudged alongside the caravan and though tired, he had purpose to lend his step some energy. The caravan was on its way to Kison, and the big city would be cosmopolitan enough—he hoped—not to hound him out of it if he was caught practicing the arcane arts. He might even find a proper library there, not some village reeve's little stack of quack almanacs and smutty pulp. He decided to strike up a conversation to take his mind off his fatigue, and approached the nearest of his fellow travelers.

"We're almost to Lerest and yet none of us have been introduced. You're clearly not one of these farmers, and you don't have the look of a career guardsman, if you don't mind me saying. I'm Damiel," he added, without offering a surname or place of origin.

[HerbertWest]

"We're almost to Lerest and yet none of us have been introduced. You're clearly not one of these farmers, and you don't have the look of a career guardsman, if you don't mind me saying. I'm Damiel," he added, without offering a surname or place of origin.


You speak true, Damiel, we have not introduced ourselves. I am Robert, a knight of Solarion. Well met, fellow traveler. What spurs you towards Kison?"


Damiel, and anyone paying close enough attention to Robert will notice a silver holy symbol around Robert's neck, resting on the breastplate and tabard of his full plate. Upon his back is sheathed a masterfully forged greatsword, the cross-guard made to appear like gnarled tree branches, and in the pommel, a large ruby is set in the center of a blazing sun made of bronze. Similar to Damiel, Robert does not offer a surname if he has one, nor a place from whence he came.

[tonberryking]

"Lapis Almasy. Hail and well met."

Though the line is delivered with a bit of barb, the odd figure slows her black mare even more to keep pace with Damiel. Perhaps to avoid stares, she's taken to trail at the back of the caravan; her hood is covering her face but some odd lumps underneath make it seem like she's got quite the misshapen head, worse still when those lumps twitch or more. Though she's riding a full-sized horse, she's barely bigger than a dwarf, and much more compact.

""I'd rather not think much about what I resemble, however; it's caused me no end of trouble as of late. You however, have the look of a man who has traveled too long on foot. May I ask why?"


Would have gotten this in sooner but they called me in to work on my off day.

Perception: [roll0]

[Henry the 57th]

As the last of the sun's light slowly fades away, Aeyrth's twin moons rise slowly to take its place. The old man driving the lead wagon and the younger man steering the one in the rear both slowly retrieve what look to be well-used torches, setting them alight gingerly. The moons' silvery-white light dimly illuminates the road ahead of the caravan, while the stars begin to appear overhead one by one. A few more insects begin to chirp, and there are at least a few places where more than one or two have congregated. There are even a few fireflies flitting about, attracted to the torchlight even as they create their own.

Your ears pick up a slight rustle in the grass, and as you whip your head around you could swear that you caught the slightest glimpse of movement from somewhere off to the southeast. What could it be?

The breeze is cool, the twin moons are bright, and everything around you is as peaceful and nonthreatening as it gets these days. What a lovely night this is! You're quite glad that you have such long and villain-free lives ahead of you with which to enjoy it! :smallsmile:

When you glance up at one point or another, you notice that there appears to be a mid-sized bird silhouetted against the night sky, obviously much smaller than the Druid's Roc. This wouldn't be very notable except for the fact that as the minutes tick by it appears to be following you, making very wide circles around the caravan and keeping itself well out of bow-shot.

These grasslands have long been dominated by herds of migratory bison, which in turn has drawn predators. Wolves, bears, lions from the Wyrmspine Mountains, and cougars being the most prominent of them. However, in recent decades these animals have been seriously diminished, not just from disease but also from humans who do not appreciate the competition for the dwindling herds or the inevitable attacks on their farm animals. Dire Bats from the Wyrmspine have also been occasionally known to hunt out this far, but it's pretty rare.

The local area is mostly flat grasslands, which transition into rolling hills the closer you get to the massive Wyrmspine Mountain range to the east. The Grass Sea extends around two hundred miles to the north and maybe seventy five to the west towards the coast from here. To the immediate south at their southern tip are the Whispering Woods, which are bordered by Kison. The terrain between here and there is pretty flat and not known to be particularly dangerous.

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

Her eyes tracked the bird for a few moments before making her way to the caravan master, her voice clear and crisp as she spoke intended to carry for others to be alert also "we are being tracked by a lone bird - unlikely a carrion eater which I would expect to be in a flock, and while possible I think it unlikely to be one of my kind merely noting our passage" the land was unlikely to be truely interesting enough to be truely worth defending these days and the loose order was spread thin as it was, and the caravan not interesting enough to warrent such a survey "as we are near Lerest people may be relaxing ready for the evening - that may be a mistake", shrugging "or could be nothing - a young trainer seeing about training a bird to observe".

As she left she glanced at her roc, and than at the caravan master "On a personal note I think it is an ill omen - most birds would not risk showing themselves to a roc as it hunts, so this speaks of decent training or sinister designs - and decent trainers are hard to come by these days", in truth she was tempted to have her roc engage the bird to test it, but should this merely be a merchant from Lerest testing his training by getting advance warning of customers she didn't wish to deprive them after they put effort in. Of course if the bird happened to run afoul of the feeding roc on its own that was between the birds.

[DaOldeWolf]

Amanaki notices the suspicious follower and thinks for a couple of seconds about what to do. He decides to inform the group speaking with each other and let them handle the situation. "Excuse me for interrupting your conversation but has anyone else noticed that we are being followed from the skies by some kind of bird? It is starting to feel suspicious." Amanaki speaks to the rest.

He then quickly decides to add "ALso, lets try not to look suspicious and make it obvious that we have noticed anything."

[HerbertWest]

As the others in the caravan speak of birds in the sky, the caravan potentially being followed, and being on alert, Robert seems to not take heed of the advice. He had not noticed anything peculiar stirring about, and as far as he was concerned, his companions were being paranoid, looking for something to attach meaning to. He had noticed through the journey to Lerest that they had avoided others, and had kept to themselves. Perhaps they were on the run from something, or someone, and were letting their nerves get to them. These were trying times, so he understood why they may have their concerns. He did not respond to Svisyrra or Amanaki other than to nod an affirmation that he had heard them, but despite his thoughts, he found himself keeping a wary eye towards the grasses on either side of the caravan.

[Bryconium]

An uneasiness fills Isabella as she keeps a lookout. Though she can't notice anything in particular, she knows something isn't right. As she looks around the caravan, she notices a group of her fellow travelers also alerted. She heads over towards them, hoping to get a firmer grasp on an danger.
"Did you notice anything? I haven't seen anything but I just have a feeling."

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

Noting the chainmail clad woman approach "seems there is a bird maintaining itself carefully outside bow range following us in wide circles" she didn't know the other womans level of knowledge on such matters "it is not natural behaviour - either well trained and ordered by someone, magic is involved or it possesses intellegence more similiar to our own than to that of a normal bird" shrugging, "could be nothing important to us - but probably is something important to someone".

She hadn't really chatted to the others on the trip, althought she had made the acquaintance of the animals involved in the caravan - from the horses some sat on to the beasts pulling the caravans, so she was content enought with the company of the beasts.

[DaOldeWolf]

"At the very least, we might need some kind of signal in case we are ambushed or see anything dangerous. If I see anything suspicious I will cast a spell that will show red lights flying above the caravan. I think we should also divide to cover more area. Of course, those are only suggestions." Amanaki adds still unsure if anyone would listen to him.

[HerbertWest]

"At the very least, we might need some kind of signal in case we are ambushed or see anything dangerous. If I see anything suspicious I will cast a spell that will show red lights flying above the caravan. I think we should also divide to cover more area. Of course, those are only suggestions." Amanaki adds still unsure if anyone would listen to him.

Robert looks to Amanaki as he speaks, and nods his assent to his proposed course of action. He speaks loudly enough so that his companions can hear, but tries not to be too loud, lest anyone else who may be listening overhear him.

"I have no spells that would give such a sigil, but should we come under attack, I will let loose a battle shout to make everyone aware. We should split into pairs. That way, if one of us is taken by surprise, we are not overwhelmed, and the other could let the rest of the caravan know that we have been ambushed. What say you all?"

Robert looks at all of them, his eyes meeting those of Svisyrra, Amanaki, Isabella, Lapis, and Damiel, if they return eye contact. It is apparent that the Paladin is experienced commanding others, but he is making effort to not seem like he is commanding them with his tone.


Hit Points: 47/47
AC: 21
Touch: 10
Flat Footed: 21
CMD: 18
Aura of Good (Ex): Robert has a Faint aura.
Divine Grace: Robert gains a bonus equal to his Charisma Modifier (+3) to all Saving Throws
Aura of Courage: Robert is immune to fear, magical or otherwise. All allies within 10 ft. of Robert gains a +4 morale bonus on Saving Throws against fear effects.
Divine Health: Robert is immune to all diseases, including supernatural and magic diseases, including mummy rot.

[Bryconium]

"The paladin's plan is sound, though I would recommend placing me and the mage," she gestures to Amanaki as she says so, "As close to the center as we can. We need to make sure he can get his spell off, and with my bow I should be able to instantly help any group instantly as long as we keep a relatively close circle."

As she says this she returns Robert's gaze, doing her best not to betray any emotions.

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

She listened to the others discuss "no" she than turned to walk away before remembering that these were not wildlife creatures and needed more explanation than that as she turned back to them "a bright signal in the sky is advantageous when you will be supported by allies - however in this setting it would act as a beacon to predators, every bandit group in the area with a lookout would know - or suspect - that we were in trouble and like sharks to blood would swarm to see what could be taken, whether we drive off the ambush or not we would be inviting another".

Turning to the paladin "further splitting up away from the caravan would only make us and it softer targets, like showing our belly to a bear - and it fails to account for the cause of our concern, an airboure threat - if that is a rival druid there are techniques that may have mastered to allow them the full access to their magic while in the form of a bird, this caravan could be crippled before a defence is even properly mounted and that ignores it having allies - or other flying enemies hidden against the sky or that burrow in the earth", looking at the mages bat "conversly if it is more a ensorcelled bird where another is using its eyes they would know your movements as you make them away from the caravan and know how to bypass you or ambush you seperately".

Shrugging "you may do what you will - I will be remaining with the caravan for its defence as I agreed when I joined it".

[HerbertWest]

Svisyrra

She listened to the others discuss "no" she than turned to walk away before remembering that these were not wildlife creatures and needed more explanation than that as she turned back to them "a bright signal in the sky is advantageous when you will be supported by allies - however in this setting it would act as a beacon to predators, every bandit group in the area with a lookout would know - or suspect - that we were in trouble and like sharks to blood would swarm to see what could be taken, whether we drive off the ambush or not we would be inviting another".

Turning to the paladin "further splitting up away from the caravan would only make us and it softer targets, like showing our belly to a bear - and it fails to account for the cause of our concern, an airboure threat - if that is a rival druid there are techniques that may have mastered to allow them the full access to their magic while in the form of a bird, this caravan could be crippled before a defence is even properly mounted and that ignores it having allies - or other flying enemies hidden against the sky or that burrow in the earth", looking at the mages bat "conversly if it is more a ensorcelled bird where another is using its eyes they would know your movements as you make them away from the caravan and know how to bypass you or ambush you seperately".

Shrugging "you may do what you will - I will be remaining with the caravan for its defence as I agreed when I joined it".

Robert listens to them all speak, before turning his attention to Svisyrra. He responds to her, looking intrigued by her words and her analysis of the situation.

"What would you propose then? Let us assume that you are correct, either a druid or a wizard is viewing us with this airborne creature. What sort of defensive maneuvers would you prepare in advance? The follower of Cebaal made a good point about her position, if nothing else, with her bow. I apologize, I only know Damiel's name."

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

"Hmm ... I can only speak to my experience and abilities from a tactical prespective, if I had offence against the caravan and control of the terrain for an ambush splitting up would be only benefit my attack. Your experience and abilities are different from mine - if you were planning an attack on a caravan you might attack with men and hired scouts and as such noting them before the attack might be better, I will not speak to your tactics should you feel the need to attack such as this or in whatever manner you would act in" pausing "however the bird - for lack of greater knowledge - has not shown itself as hostile yet, it may be merely someone in Lerest using an early warning system for visitors and it will fly off soon so that should we prove hostile the town is prepared.

"As such we should be alert and aware - and not lose ourselves to thoughts of beds, mead or whatever other comforts that the village may offer at this late stage of the journey - but there is no need to assume hostile intent until one is clearly shown" turning to look at the horizon and her Roc as it swooped at something it likely saw as a quick meal "but do as your own training and wisdom guides you to do - if you feel like splitting up to investigate items I will not argue against you on it though it goes against my own feelings, but I will be staying here in case a threat appears in a manner similiar to how I would generate one".

Returning her gaze to the paladin for a moment she tilted her head slightly as she puzzled out the etiquette, "Svisyrra" she stated her name, was he meant to have introduced himself to her first - or had he done so when she had been at the front and he felt himself important enough that all should have heard him speak, was his comments on the name an indication that he wanted one - she barely remembered her mothers and fathers lessons on these matters and animals were significantly easier, so it seemed simplier to offer one.

[Athaleon]

"You however, have the look of a man who has traveled too long on foot. May I ask why?"

Damiel paused a long time before answering. "Too long for what?", he asked rhetorically. "I have been on the road a long time. Guess I just haven't found the right place to settle down," he trailed off with that vague statement.

He did not speak again until the circling bird was spotted. "No one splits off from the caravan; we've a better chance all together, even among farmers. And if we're ambushed in this open plain," he waved vaguely at the land around them, "we can at least have the wagons for cover."

[DaOldeWolf]

"I still say we should divide in groups. Maybe half protecting the left side of the caravan and the other half the right side. We need to be prepared for the chance of an attack even if there is no immediate threat. Also, a tiny beacon of red light shouldn't attract bandits more than this caravan already does." Amanaki points out. "Also, this isn't about leaving the caravan, its about protecting it better."

[Bryconium]

"We aren't suggesting going off on our own, we are suggesting having guards surrounding the caravan. The distance is not that great. This way we'll be able to better react to any trouble that may come. Regardless, I shall take a position in the middle."

[tonberryking]

"I concur; we shouldn't split the caravan off. If anyone is watching us, we don't want them to make it so obvious that we suspect a transgression."

Her discussion with Damiel briefly forgotten, the hooded figure turns her mare to move alongside Robert's own horse. She seems to be implying that she would team up with him. "However, we should still get anyone on foot into a wagon or on horse in case we must make haste; mage or warrior, we can't afford to leave anyone behind. Maybe we should be slow about moving into position, lest we give any onlooker suspicion or cause to act on us faster..."

[Henry the 57th]

Tense minutes tick by as the group keeps a close watch on their surroundings, ever alert for the faintest hint of danger. A wary eye is ever turned to the avian circling high above as well, its dark silhouette just visibly in the pale moonlight. Weapons are kept close to hand as eyes dart this way and that, ever searching for some predator or bandit or worse things still. There's not a soul in the caravan that does not at least feel their heartbeat rise slowly but steadily as they work to contain their nervous anticipation. Surely something is bound to happen. And yet... nothing does.

The night remains peaceful and still, the only sounds to be heard beyond the caravan itself those of the chirping of crickets and their ilk. The bird circling high above offers no challenge or threat, simply continuing its silent vigil until at last Svisyrra's great Roc returns from its nightly hunt, the carcass of a brown owl clutched triumphantly in its beak. At the sight of the much larger bird the mysterious pursuer abandons its observation. With quick but steady beats of its wings, the avian breaks off towards the northeast, giving the druid's mighty companion a very wide berth as it does so. The caravan itself continues south, feeling a little more relaxed without the constant gaze of some unknown being on them.

With the old caravan master Janos Reis' encouragement, the three carts make good time towards Lerest without any further incident. However, perhaps ten minutes out from the farming village, the weather takes a slight turn for the worse. A fog bank, rolling in from the south, engulfs the little wagon train and the land surrounding it in a dense gray mist that shows no signs of letting up the closer you get. But nothing springs from the gloom screaming for blood. And the caravan is only a few minutes out from bedding down for the night. Still, the two hired horsemen are eyeing the fog warily, hands resting near their scabbards.

"No point in stopping this close - we'd be more vulnerable on our own than indoors," Reis reasons aloud. "Sure the fog's a bit creepy but it ain't the first I've seen 'round here. Besides, I got an arrangement with the inkeep in town and I want to sleep in a warm bed near a hearth if its all the same to you."

The two hirelings look nervous, but they seem to at least be somewhat swayed by this line of thinking. They nudge their horses one, but continue to occasionally look nervously out into the grey soup surrounding the road. Soon enough the old man's words prove to be accurate. It isn't two minutes before the caravan begins passing by the first of several tilled fields of corn and potatoes that mark the edge of Lerest. Soon enough twin rows of wood and stone buildings can be just made out through the dark and gloom, beckoning the tweary travellers foward to their overdue rest.

"Huh," one can just make out Reis muttering to himself from atop the lead wagon. "Usually isn't this dark."

I'm going to want your positions here. Will accompany the lead wagon as it rolls into town? Stay behind and let them go first? Or try and convince the caravaneers to stay behind, alone, in the darkness while you go in?

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

She tilted her head curiously as others indicated that they intended to split up but remain together merely at different locations close by the caravan, was that not what they had been doing all trip? she at the front others at the sides and some at the rear? ... after musing it for a few moments she simply turned and returned to the front - others would do as they thought best as would she.

The remaining trip was irksome - the birds behaviour grated on her and more than once she thought to fly up and converse with it - but resisted as a likely foolish engagement, she was not a good flyer and lacked the speed to catch the bird if it wanted to avoid her.

At least as her companion returned satisfied from his hunt the smaller bird left, few creatures could outpace a Roc in the air - and sending it to engage was certainly something she had considered.

As they approached the town the fog bothered her, it had not been raining, nor were they close to the coast for it to be coming in from the sea - she turned to the caravan master "Janos hold a moment this fog seems odd and the village should have some lights about it or sounds from it - I would scout first and report back before we move on", she offered.

[DaOldeWolf]

Amanaki remains on his guard during the rest of the time. As it was suggested, he accompanied Isabella in case anything happened. The more time the creature spent flying over the caravan, the more certain he was it wasn't some kind of coincidence. He really wished that the creature was closer to try to detect magic on the creature but he was glad when it left.

Amanaki was surprised that despite what she said, she was seemingly jumping to a dangerous place by her where she could be easily picked up especially if she went alone. "Are you sure you want to do this alone?" Amanaki asks with a bit of concern.

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

"I see no reason to go into the town at all if the inn is closed" and without lights she felt it likely was "but I am more comfortable with the outdoors than most here". Turning to look at the mage "but I would not intend to engage in a conflict - I can fly out if I need to, or burrow through the ground as appropriate it would be difficult for them to get a meaningful ambush off against me" though not impossible "others might get caught in a snare I could ignore". "However" she gestured to his odd bat - it did not seem like a proper bat to her, "if your friend can and will scout out instead and would reliably report back I would not object to them taking the risk".

[tonberryking]

I'll accompany you as well; we can't be too careful, even if we shall laugh about our caution later."
The short hooded one approaches, her tone making it seem she is a little too eager to help, but she's earnest at least to the Druid.

[DaOldeWolf]

Hemprich hisses at the suggestion from Svisyrra. Amanaki understand why Hemprich would be relunctuant but Hemprich was the best equipped for the job. "I know you dont want to do this but its not necessary that you engage in combat with anybody. We just need you to check the surroundings and come back here after you do. You know you cant get further away from our established limit so remain within that area. I will remain in this spot. It should be easy for a creture of your size and capabilities to remain hidden in this fog. And after this is all over, I will make it up to you with some of your favorite food, so what do you say?"

Hemprich decides to follow the plan mostly thinking about the reward Amanaki offered him. Hemprich flies into the mist to check the territory within its limit. Amanaki decides to do something in the meantime and cast a spell to start analyzing the fog in case magic might be involved.


100 feet is the limit that Heimprich can reach before disappearing so just searching the area up to that limit.
It possesses blindsense and scent.
Flight speed: 40 ft (good maneuverability)
Plus all familiar abilities.

Casting detect magic and going to be spending the next rounds analyzing the fog and looking for magical auras if I get the chance. Here is a dice roll if I get the three rounds to check for magic auras and I find anything. Ignore otherwise.
[roll0]

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

She observed the mage and his communication with his ... familiar ... she sought the right word, "will he be able to travel the full distance into town and review it?" she queried the limits of the magic that bound them she was unsure of. She did recognise the spell but it was not one she had any great use for normally.

Turning to the slight woman who had approached - she was confident her training and knowledge of different creatures told her what this was but they were rare enough that she choose not to assume, "in practical terms I was thinking that walking in and looking around and if things got dangerous I would simply transform into some beast and make my escape - you are an armoured warrior and would make that approach unlikely, triggering an ambush is only worthwhile when you do not get caught in it. Unless you have tricks I may not be aware of?" she asked.


I am assuming we are a fair bit from the town so 100ft would not really allow for much scouting from where we are.

[Bryconium]

"Whatever decision you come to, I'll provide what cover I can with my bow. Though I would suggest that we send more than one person into town. You may have faith in your ability to escape an ambush, but what if you are wrong? Sending even one more ups your chances of survival."

[DaOldeWolf]

Svisyrra

She observed the mage and his communication with his ... familiar ... she sought the right word, "will he be able to travel the full distance into town and review it?" she queried the limits of the magic that bound them she was unsure of. She did recognise the spell but it was not one she had any great use for normally.

Turning to the slight woman who had approached - she was confident her training and knowledge of different creatures told her what this was but they were rare enough that she choose not to assume, "in practical terms I was thinking that walking in and looking around and if things got dangerous I would simply transform into some beast and make my escape - you are an armoured warrior and would make that approach unlikely, triggering an ambush is only worthwhile when you do not get caught in it. Unless you have tricks I may not be aware of?" she asked.


I am assuming we are a fair bit from the town so 100ft would not really allow for much scouting from where we are.


"Just a hundred feet. Its not much but hopefully, it will find something." Amanaki explains.

[HerbertWest]

Robert listens to all of them debate their various options, listening silently while each member of the traveling party voices their own opinions. Finally, he speaks to his companions with his own opinion.

The Druidess has a sound plan, but I concur with sending one more of us with her to scout ahead. Since you have both proposed scouting ahead, why don't the both of you go?"

The Paladin gestures to Svisyrra and Amanaki, before he continues.

"I will stay with the caravan to ensure its defense with the others, and attempt to convince them to linger a few moments longer while we check ahead. I believe we need to make up our minds soon, though. Their patience may well be wearing thin already."

Robert looks over to the caravan leaders and the travelers within the wagons, trying to gauge their overall mood at the delay, before looking back to his companions, awaiting their decision regarding his suggested course of action.


Rolling Sense Motive to make "a gut assessment of the social situation" as described in the Hunch section of the skill page. Please let me know if I need to roll a different skill.
Sense Motive: [roll0]


Hit Points: 47/47
AC: 21
Touch: 10
Flat Footed: 21
CMD: 18
Aura of Good (Ex): Robert has a Faint aura.
Divine Grace: Robert gains a bonus equal to his Charisma Modifier (+3) to all Saving Throws
Aura of Courage: Robert is immune to fear, magical or otherwise. All allies within 10 ft. of Robert gains a +4 morale bonus on Saving Throws against fear effects.
Divine Health: Robert is immune to all diseases, including supernatural and magic diseases, including mummy rot.

[Henry the 57th]

Caravan master Janos Reis, driving the first wagon, has slowed down as the warriors conferred with each other, but has not stopped entirely. His wagon, with the other two following behind and the sellswords flanking, continues trundling its way down the path towards the mist-shrouded Lerest.

"Come on," he says. "We're nearly there! There's hot food and a warm bed waiting for us, and I don't want ta be any later than we already are. The fog's creepy I'll give you that, but there are lakes in the woods not far south. The mist is natural enough. I've seen it before. So stop being paranoid and let's get inside and get some shut-eye."

With that, he spurs his donkeys onwards, and his wagon picks up a little speed.

The two horsemen seem to be just as nervous as they appear, but they're following along with their employer. The two younger men driving the rear wagons look a little confused by the apparent paranoia on display, and are loyally following the Reis' lead as well.

From the way he's sitting almost ramrod straight atop his wagon and occasionally allowing his eyes to drift towards the edge of the torchlight, Reis seems to be a little more tense than his words and tone would suggest. Perhaps he knows more than he's letting on.

When Hemprich returns to you he indicates that within the narrow range he is bound to, he did not detect any sources of magic. Neither does the mist itself evidence any magical auras.

[HerbertWest]

Caravan master Janos Reis, driving the first wagon, has slowed down as the warriors conferred with each other, but has not stopped entirely. His wagon, with the other two following behind and the sellswords flanking, continues trundling its way down the path towards the mist-shrouded Lerest.

"Come on," he says. "We're nearly there! There's hot food and a warm bed waiting for us, and I don't want ta be any later than we already are. The fog's creepy I'll give you that, but there are lakes in the woods not far south. The mist is natural enough. I've seen it before. So stop being paranoid and let's get inside and get some shut-eye."

With that, he spurs his donkeys onwards, and his wagon picks up a little speed.

The two horsemen seem to be just as nervous as they appear, but they're following along with their employer. The two younger men driving the rear wagons look a little confused by the apparent paranoia on display, and are loyally following the Reis' lead as well.

From the way he's sitting almost ramrod straight atop his wagon and occasionally allowing his eyes to drift towards the edge of the torchlight, Reis seems to be a little more tense than his words and tone would suggest. Perhaps he knows more than he's letting on.

Robert furrows his brow, noting Reis's show of somewhat false bravado. The nobleman would have to think of the best way to try to convince Reis to call the caravan to a brief halt, but not cause the leader to lose face in front of his men. Robert approached the donkey-driven wagon, raising a hand towards Reis to get his attention.

"Master Reis, I know that the comforts of a warm bed and a hot meal are alluring, especially with such a journey as ours. But I implore you, allow us a momentary caution. You remarked yourself that the town is not usually this dark, and in these times, that could be an ill omen. I would ask that you allow us this brief precaution, and should all bode well in Lerest, I will buy you and your men your first round of drinks."


Robert will attempt Diplomacy to sway Janos' decision regarding entering Lerest, in an attempt to buy the rest of the party time to scout.
Diplomacy: [roll0]



Hit Points: 47/47
AC: 21
Touch: 10
Flat Footed: 21
CMD: 18
Aura of Good (Ex): Robert has a Faint aura.
Divine Grace: Robert gains a bonus equal to his Charisma Modifier (+3) to all Saving Throws
Aura of Courage: Robert is immune to fear, magical or otherwise. All allies within 10 ft. of Robert gains a +4 morale bonus on Saving Throws against fear effects.
Divine Health: Robert is immune to all diseases, including supernatural and magic diseases, including mummy rot.

[Henry the 57th]

Robert's words are clearly striking some sort of chord with the caravan master. He tugs at his collar "Well, you see..." Reis appears to be hesitating, eyes now darting this way and that. "We need to get inside the inn. Now. I don't think we should wait any longer. Things have been known to, uh, happen to travelers who spend too much time outside on mist-filled nights."

The wagons have ground to a halt as their leader is waffling. The two sellswords are looking confused and uneasy, while the young man driving the center wagon just looks worried.

"Hey pa," he asks. "You alright?"

"Just fine," Reis answers just a little too quickly.

[tonberryking]

"I am low to the ground and quite fast. Very fast if I need to be, which can be almost as useful as flying. ...also, I insist on coming whether you like it or not." The hooded warrior climbs down off her horse, wondering if anyone can take the mare's reigns.

"Besides. Can you see well in dim light without turning into something else? If just the two of us go, with the promise of covering fire both ourselves and the caravan will remain safe with everyone else surrounding it. This will only take a few moments, I imagine."

She says the last part to try to assuage the caravan leader, though it does bother her that the man is less worried about fog enshrouding a lightness night opposed to an otherwise empty plains.


Sense motive to see if the caravan leader knows something he's not bringing up on purpose: [roll0]

[Athaleon]

"I am not made for sneaking about, especially not in this—what do they call it—battle rattle, as it were." Damiel indicated his mail and pouches. His sword was already out, resting casually on his shoulder. "I still maintain that none of us should split off, but if you want to scout ahead I won't try to stop you. Whether we all ride in now or wait for a report, I shall stay with the caravan. But let us come to a decision quickly."

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

"Very well if you insist - but I cannot be responsible for you should I need to flee against unexpected odds, nor do I expect you to be responsible for me" she said to the smaller woman before turning to the mare "you at least would be better staying here" her voice tilted to allow the animal to be calm despite its rider leaving, finally she gave a low bird call to alert her companion to watch the caravan from the sky and protect it if needed and reasonable - its call of nothing else would alert her to danger.

With that she made her way towards the town at a steady pace, eyes peeled for danger but also for tracks on the ground that would indicate if anything odd had occured here.


Perception: [roll0]
Survival: [roll1]

[tonberryking]

The cloaked warrior dismounts her mare, touching down with her large (or rather, long) feet and pulls a normal, black-hilted dueling sword from the saddle scabbard it was affixed to. Without breaking stride, she loosens her gladius too in its shoulder sheath and keeps pace with the taller woman.


[roll0] Perception

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

As they moved in she decided to attempt conversation - a talent she was not overly familiar with, "so who are you anyway - and why are you here?" she asked somewhat bluntly even as she kept her voice quite.

[tonberryking]

Lapis Almasy. I went searching for something and found nothing. Nothing for me, anyway, so I returned to more civilized climes."

She doesn't elaborate much after that, her eyes looking low to the ground for threats more than upward.

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

Her eyes scanning the ground for odd tracks for a village or for tracks that moved in an odd way, as her ears noted the accent and manner of speach her knowledge of the people of the world filtering through her mind when she pieced it together "hmph truthfully I wasn't aware your kind still existed - much less traveled, much less alone", gazing at the sky "not overly fond of most civilisation myself".

Considering "as a heads up for the trip I prepared myself for open area combat, not urban fighting or single combat - if I have to fight properly it will be destructive or hampering to all around me, and the town. What about yourself - are you skilled at combat and how so?" she asked, if they were to operate as a pack of kinds she needed to know how the other being operated.

[tonberryking]

"It's complicated, and I'm very much unlike my kin." Lapis offers back before hearing Svisyrra speak of her combat prowess. "Two swords and defensive. And I've lived up til now with few problems."

...She's not much of a talker compared to her human ally, is she?

[DaOldeWolf]

Amanaki decides to wait with the caravan. It was quite risky to get into dangerous territory without many defenses. Hemprich returned without trouble which Amanaki was glad about. I just hope they make it back in one piece. He thinks.

[Bryconium]

Isabella walks for a while behind Svisyrra and Lapis, stopping about a hundred or so feet from the village. She then draws her bow and sticks a few arrows in the ground by her feet, ready for any trouble.

[HerbertWest]

Robert's words are clearly striking some sort of chord with the caravan master. He tugs at his collar "Well, you see..." Reis appears to be hesitating, eyes now darting this way and that. "We need to get inside the inn. Now. I don't think we should wait any longer. Things have been known to, uh, happen to travelers who spend too much time outside on mist-filled nights."

The wagons have ground to a halt as their leader is waffling. The two sellswords are looking confused and uneasy, while the young man driving the center wagon just looks worried.

"Hey pa," he asks. "You alright?"

"Just fine," Reis answers just a little too quickly.

Robert regards Janos with a critical eye, noting his discomfort, and strange behavior. He is glad to see that the others have went ahead with their scouting, but something is not sitting well with Janos' behavior. Robert takes two steps closer to the wagon, looking up at Reis, placing a hand on the floorboard of the wagon near his boot. He speaks quietly, not wanting to disturb the other caravan riders. His tone is less cordial than before, though still polite. It appears Janos' 'squirming' has Robert suspicious.

"Master Reis...is there something that you aren't telling us, that you would like to tell me now?"


I would like to use the Sense Motive skill to determine whether Janos Reis is hiding something, and follow up with a Diplomacy action with Robert's request for him to tell him what he may or may not be hiding. In the event that Robert can only make one check or the other, please consider Diplomacy the skill utilized.

Sense Motive: [roll0]
Diplomacy: [roll1]



Hit Points: 47/47
AC: 21
Touch: 10
Flat Footed: 21
CMD: 18
Aura of Good (Ex): Robert has a Faint aura.
Divine Grace: Robert gains a bonus equal to his Charisma Modifier (+3) to all Saving Throws
Aura of Courage: Robert is immune to fear, magical or otherwise. All allies within 10 ft. of Robert gains a +4 morale bonus on Saving Throws against fear effects.
Divine Health: Robert is immune to all diseases, including supernatural and magic diseases, including mummy rot.

[Henry the 57th]

Three of the small group proceed to break off, wandering ahead into the mists while the caravan master is still hesitating. Though one holds back, waiting closer to the entrance of the village, the other two head cautiously in to asses the true state of Lerest.

Back at the caravan, Reis appears to be withering under the paladin's gaze. He tugs at his rough shirt's collar slightly and swallows before leaning down to whisper down to Robert.

"Look," he says, carefully glancing around. "All I'm saying is that we really don't want to stay out at night any longer than we have to. Not when there's so much fog in the air. Especially when we know something - or someone - was watching us not a few minutes ago. If they have half a brain they'll be able to guess where we are now the moment that damned bird tells on us."

It's around that moment you hear a hideous, raspy, unnatural screech coming from the town.

You aren't getting the immediate impression that he's hiding something, no. He seems to be sincere in his motive to get hell out of the misty night.

This is a pretty well-worn dirt road, but even so it's pretty clear to you that it has seen heavier than normal use on a pretty recent basis. Hours perhaps, maybe less. Mostly human-sized tracks consistent boots and hoofprints resembling draft animals, but here and there you see tracks that look considerably larger. Tracks more like those of a hulking troll.

As you enter the fog-shrouded village, the street ahead is dark and empty, though the fog prevents you from seeing very far. Lerest's small assortment of homes and buildings are arranged simply into two rows surrounding the main road you came in one, extending a fair ways down into the fog. Walking cautiously past a few of the houses, you can see no lights coming from within. Barely an hour has passed since sunset - that isn't normal. Though they are all closed, a few of the doors show some damage as though recently forced. You are considering entering one of the houses to investigate further when your ears pick up the incongruously soft tapping of metal on wood, coming from deeper into the village.

Doing your best to stay inconspicuous, you continue slowly down the main dirt road, keeping a careful eye out as you do. It isn't long before you spot a large silhouette the unending grey, lumbering slowly away from you. Very carefully, you creep silently along in its wake. It doesn't take long before you can make out the outline of the great brute - a troll, with several barrels slung under each of its arms. Then the beast stops, and you get a little closer.

There are dozens of barrels gathered near the center of town. Moving through them are four or five human-sized silhouettes, stopping at each one to pry the tops open just a crack, tip a large flask in, then hammer them back on again. You watch them for a moment trying to figure out what the game is before another sound catches your ears - the telltale clip=clop of horse's hooves. A moment later, a silhouetted horse comes into view around the others, bearing an obviously armored figure on its back. It hisses something at the troll, and the great beast sets its burden down amongst the other barrels and crates. The mounted figure nudges it horse a little closer... and just as suddenly stops.

The horseman points one armored gauntlet square in your direction and lets out a raspy screech. All at once the troll turns about and you can see that half the beast's face is nothing more than yellow bone and dangling bits of rotting black meat. Several of the humanoids begins pushing and weaving their way through the barrel maze, directly at you.

Time for combat! You have two choices:

1) Stand and fight, and we'll start combat now with just the two of you and the enemies at max distance. The others will race to your aid and get there in a few rounds.

2) Run back towards the caravan, allowing the others to get involved sooner, at the cost of allowing the enemy to catch up.

Also, I like neither of you bothered to try and roll Stealth to remain unseen yourselves. :smalltongue:

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

Noticing the tracks most were normal enough for a village but she stopped at the larger ones, "troll - or something like one anyway" she muttered - she didn't like this her studies on nature made sure she knew what most things were, but the exact nature of 'bird' earlier had eluded her, and now the trolls tracks were wrong somehow. That generally meant something undead, magical or other in nature - and she didn't like what she didn't know.

Noticing the creature she was dubious in the light about what was going on but at least it didn't seem an ambush - the barrels were curious but the armoured man more so, there was intelligence here - but seemingly not friendly. When it turned to them she considered leaving but in a close group she would be fairly useless, where in the relative open she could contribute more.

"I will delay them - you get help, or watch my back, or whatever you feel" as an afterthought "but stay away from where I target please once unleashed magic this kind of magic can lead to collateral damage".


Initiative: [roll0]

Standard Action: Thorny Entanglement (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/t/thorny-entanglement), focused with the majority of it in front of them (40ft radius so they would have 60ft of the diameter in front of them and 20ft behind them).
Everyone in it suffers 2d6 points of piercing damage and anyone within 15 feet of it takes an attack with +9 for 2d6 if they move, lasts five minutes (50 rounds so hopefully plenty). The area of ground is now difficult terrain (movement cost is doubled) and anyone within it needs to make reflex saves or become entangled (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/conditions#TOC-Entangled) (DC17).

Seemingly a Free action: Untrained knowledge Religion to identify hopefully common Undead: [roll1]

Damage:
Armoured Figure: [roll2] piercing damage
Armoured Figure Horse: [roll3] piercing damage
Troll*: [roll4] piercing damage
Humaniod 1: [roll5] piercing damage
Humaniod 2: [roll6] piercing damage
Humaniod 3: [roll7] piercing damage
Humaniod 4: [roll8] piercing damage
Humaniod 5: [roll9] piercing damage

[DaOldeWolf]

After hearing the loud screech, Amanaki´s first reaction is to get ready to engage. "They might need assistance. I got to help." He replies anxiously. He chants a few words of magic and casts his spell. He then touches Damiel, Robert and finally himself. "This might not be the strongest ward there is but it should give you some protection."

He doesn't take anymore time to explain his spell before rushing into the fog. There was no time to waste. Hemprich flew from his shoulder and started to fly ahead and guide him through it.


Casted communal protection from evil on Robert and and Damiel.
I will use my move action to get closer to our group of scouts.

[HerbertWest]

Three of the small group proceed to break off, wandering ahead into the mists while the caravan master is still hesitating. Though one holds back, waiting closer to the entrance of the village, the other two head cautiously in to asses the true state of Lerest.

Back at the caravan, Reis appears to be withering under the paladin's gaze. He tugs at his rough shirt's collar slightly and swallows before leaning down to whisper down to Robert.

"Look," he says, carefully glancing around. "All I'm saying is that we really don't want to stay out at night any longer than we have to. Not when there's so much fog in the air. Especially when we know something - or someone - was watching us not a few minutes ago. If they have half a brain they'll be able to guess where we are now the moment that damned bird tells on us."


"It has been a long journey, and these are troubled times. You have my sincerest apologies at doubting your intentions, Master Janos. I hope that you will accept my redress."



It's around that moment you hear a hideous, raspy, unnatural screech coming from the town.

You aren't getting the immediate impression that he's hiding something, no. He seems to be sincere in his motive to get hell out of the misty night.

This is a pretty well-worn dirt road, but even so it's pretty clear to you that it has seen heavier than normal use on a pretty recent basis. Hours perhaps, maybe less. Mostly human-sized tracks consistent boots and hoofprints resembling draft animals, but here and there you see tracks that look considerably larger. Tracks more like those of a hulking troll.

As you enter the fog-shrouded village, the street ahead is dark and empty, though the fog prevents you from seeing very far. Lerest's small assortment of homes and buildings are arranged simply into two rows surrounding the main road you came in one, extending a fair ways down into the fog. Walking cautiously past a few of the houses, you can see no lights coming from within. Barely an hour has passed since sunset - that isn't normal. Though they are all closed, a few of the doors show some damage as though recently forced. You are considering entering one of the houses to investigate further when your ears pick up the incongruously soft tapping of metal on wood, coming from deeper into the village.

Doing your best to stay inconspicuous, you continue slowly down the main dirt road, keeping a careful eye out as you do. It isn't long before you spot a large silhouette the unending grey, lumbering slowly away from you. Very carefully, you creep silently along in its wake. It doesn't take long before you can make out the outline of the great brute - a troll, with several barrels slung under each of its arms. Then the beast stops, and you get a little closer.

There are dozens of barrels gathered near the center of town. Moving through them are four or five human-sized silhouettes, stopping at each one to pry the tops open just a crack, tip a large flask in, then hammer them back on again. You watch them for a moment trying to figure out what the game is before another sound catches your ears - the telltale clip=clop of horse's hooves. A moment later, a silhouetted horse comes into view around the others, bearing an obviously armored figure on its back. It hisses something at the troll, and the great beast sets its burden down amongst the other barrels and crates. The mounted figure nudges it horse a little closer... and just as suddenly stops.

The horseman points one armored gauntlet square in your direction and lets out a raspy screech. All at once the troll turns about and you can see that half the beast's face is nothing more than yellow bone and dangling bits of rotting black meat. Several of the humanoids begins pushing and weaving their way through the barrel maze, directly at you.

Time for combat! You have two choices:

1) Stand and fight, and we'll start combat now with just the two of you and the enemies at max distance. The others will race to your aid and get there in a few rounds.

2) Run back towards the caravan, allowing the others to get involved sooner, at the cost of allowing the enemy to catch up.

Also, I like neither of you bothered to try and roll Stealth to remain unseen yourselves. :smalltongue:

Robert had begun walking at a brisk pace towards the town, getting out of the caravan's way and allowing Janos to continue forward. Just when he thought all may be well, the unnatural screech sounded off in the night's air. "By the Gods...", Robert exhaled under his breath, looking back to Reis.

"The town appears to be compromised, and our companions will need my aid. Keep moving the caravan forward, but stop before you truly enter Lerest."

The pretense of not commanding the caravan leader were now shed, for trouble was afoot. After Damiel's blessing, Robert ran towards Lerest with the spellcaster, towards the sounds and shrieks coming from the village, and drew his ancestral sword from its scabbard. He had a feeling it would be needed.


Hit Points: 47/47
AC: 21 (23 vs. Evil)
Touch: 10 (12 vs. Evil)
Flat Footed: 21 (23 vs. Evil)
CMD: 18
Aura of Good (Ex): Robert has a Faint aura.
Divine Grace (Su): Robert gains a bonus equal to his Charisma Modifier (+3) to all Saving Throws
Aura of Courage (Su): Robert is immune to fear, magical or otherwise. All allies within 10 ft. of Robert gains a +4 morale bonus on Saving Throws against fear effects.
Divine Health (Ex): Robert is immune to all diseases, including supernatural and magic diseases, including mummy rot.
Protection from Evil (http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/coreRulebook/spells/protectionFromEvil.html) (Damiel): +2 Deflection Bonus to AC, +2 Resistance Bonus to Saves vs. Evil Creatures.

[Bryconium]

Hearing the screech Isabella curses and sprints down the road, grabbing a handful of arrows from the ground as she started off toward Lerest. As she runs, she whispers a prayer to Cebaal.
"Lord Cebaal, grant me the the sight to see the truths of the blinding heresies! Her eyes flash as divine power flows through her.
activates an inquisition, +2 to hit.

[Athaleon]

"There could be more out here. Keep a sharp eye out and always watch your back." With that, Damiel hurried on after his companions. With the merest thought, the blade in his hands surged with invisible energy. He almost hesitated, and sighed, as he cast a spell to conjure some much-needed light.


Swift Action: Arcane Pool to bring his Scimitar up to +2 Keen
Move Action: Move closer to the sound of fighting
Standard Action: Cast Dancing Lights to light up the area around himself, and ahead of him. If someone asks for a light he will move one accordingly, but they must be within 10' of another light.

[tonberryking]

The cloaked figure just draws her other sword and stands directly in front of Svisyrra, assuming that the thorny spell she just cast is between herself (Lapis) and the zombie horde.

"Just keep casting your magic behind me until you want to turn into something big. I'll be by your side either way. she says, bracing her swords up in a practiced pose.


HP:40 AC:21 (+3) (Touch: 17 /FF:20)

Using Combat Expertise to bring Lapis' to-hit down by -2 but raise her AC. Her Dodge feat is being used against the closest enemy that approaches her and she's holding her action to attack the first rotting slob that comes near her and Svisyrra.

[Henry the 57th]

The ghastly corpse-troll's empty eye sockets blaze with unholy blue energies as it roars out an echo of the fury it knew in life. Without the slightest hesitation the beast hurdles itself forward headless of self-preservation, half-rotten toes digging great gouges into the earth as it comes on. Not far behind are the five humanoids, revealed quickly under the pale moonlight to be ghastly decaying corpses themselves, dressed in chainshirts and wielding shining weapons as if in mockery of the soldiers of the living. One of their kind, wielding a sword and shield, hisses in imitation of the unnerving shrieks of the horseman while waving its sword about. Four others, wielding spears, follow its lead and barrel down the road after the troll, shrieking their hunger for the flesh of the living.

Behind the repulsive dead, the armored horseman nudges his mount into motion after them. As he closes more of his form can be out - he's clearly a very tall figure, clad in dark grey plate armor tinged with black. Chainmail and bits black cloth flow smoothly through the gaps in the plate, leaving absolutely no flesh exposed. Even his face is covered by a plated mask set into his helmet, leaving little more than dark eye slits visible to the naked eye. The black horse beneath him does not appear to be corpse, judging from its audible breathing. Grasping his reins the horsemen holds his steed back a little, allowing the slower wall of rotting flesh to close with the enemy before he does.

But his caution proves of little use when Svisyrra raises her hand, calling upon the powers of nature to bind and destroy these abominations. In answer to her call thousands of thorny tendrils burst from the ground in a single terrible wave, sending small chunks of earth and rock flying in all directions. The horseman's steed rears up, neighing in terror and kicking out desperately as the vicious thorns wrap themselves around its legs and dig into its flesh, drawing blood. The armored figure himself is assailed by a volley of briars, but he shields himself with one arm and most seem to simply clatter off the plate without much effect. The undead are assailed by wave after wave of grasping tendrils and flung briars, though the pointed thorns seem to have only minimal effect on their long-dead flesh. They club and hack frantically against the binds, desperate to close the distance and feast on the flesh of the living.

Reflex saves:
Horse: vs. 17
Zombie Troll: [roll1] vs. 17
Zombie Captain: [roll2] vs. 17
Zombie Warrior 1: [roll3] vs. 17
Zombie Warrior 2: [roll4] vs. 17
Zombie Warrior 3: [roll5] vs. 17
Zombie Warrior 4: [roll6] vs. 17

Assuming those fail, they'll all make strength checks to break out at the start of their turns next round:
Zombie Troll: [roll7] vs. 17
Zombie Captain: [roll8] vs. 17
Zombie Warrior 1: [roll9] vs. 17
Zombie Warrior 2: [roll10] vs. 17
Zombie Warrior 3: [roll11] vs. 17
Zombie Warrior 4: [roll12] vs. 17

The horse is close enough to the back to just force its way out with a double move, entangled or no.

Whatever happen, the undead will be taking attack and/or damage rolls from the thorns:
Zombie Troll: [roll:]1d20+9 vs. AC for Piercing.
Zombie Captain: [roll:]1d20+9 vs. AC for Piercing.
Zombie Warrior 1: [roll:]1d20+9 vs. AC for Piercing.
Zombie Warrior 2: [roll:]1d20+9 vs. AC for Piercing.
Zombie Warrior 3: [roll:]1d20+9 vs. AC for Piercing.
Zombie Warrior 4: [roll:]1d20+9 vs. AC for [roll18] Piercing.

Well that wasn't complicated. :smalltongue:


Snarling angrily at the thorns in his way, the horseman draws a heavy-looking longsword from a scabbard at his waist, hacking viciously at vines piercing his mount. A few quick, efficient strokes suffice to win his horse's freedom, and he immediately takes the opportunity to pull his mount out of the fray. The horse and rider retreat considerably, even as the fearless dead rage and hurl themselves ever-closer to the living. The troll takes the easy lead, its massive size and resilient flesh allowing it to stomp through the thorns recklessly, seemingly all but unhurt by the barbs buried in its skin. But the whipping vines slow it considerably, and it is unable to tear its way free. The other corpses make slow progress behind it, pushing their way closer but accomplishing only a little.

Meanwhile, Isabella races onto to the scene with nigh-supernatural quickness, as if her footsteps were guided by Cebaal himself. She sees the wall of thorns holding back the straining dead, and prepares herself for combat.

Battlemap after the enemies' turn 2 and Isabella's arrival: https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1Qn2ltNOK0nkE4HKD917NFRye2qCyJ7OCKdUmDkQzEOE/edit?usp=sharing

The red pog with the silver lining is the zombie captain.

Since Lapis is continuing to hold her action, the turn passes back to Svisyrra.

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

She was not happy with her reaction times - had she been faster she might have stalled them a good deal further away, but at least the were delayed for now.

Focusing her power again she repeated almost the same hand movements and words as before as the symbol of her order acted as a focus, and again the ground responded to her efforts.


Standard Action: Entangle (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/e/entangle) (just the normal version), centered at L7 (to avoid catching Lapis).
So some of them will have to make two reflex checks now (the second one at only DC15) - and all the land in front of us is difficult terrain.

Move action: Ready her shield (as I had previously not mentioned it).

[Henry the 57th]

Even as the leading undead seem on the verge of winning free, the ground shakes once more as thousands of additional vines force their way forth to impede the way. The snarls of hatred from rotting throats are as revolting as they are intimidating.

The undead manage to move forwards two or three squares each and an Entangle appears directly in front of Lapis.

Isabella is up

[Bryconium]

Isabella pulls up behind Lapis and Svisyrra, quickly assessing the situation before her. She knocks an arrow and lets it fly, uttering a curse against the undead as she does so. As the arrow flies it bursts into blue flame and slams into the troll zombie, swiftly followed by another arrow.
Two shots using rapidshot, activate undead bane on her bow. Attack:[roll0] Damage:[roll1] Bane:[roll2], Attack:[roll3] Damage:[roll4] Bane:[roll5]

[Henry the 57th]

The unliving monstrosity shrieks as two arrows puncture its chest, driving deep into useless lungs. The blue fires in its eyes flicker briefly as it doubles over, but the beast rallies and bares its yellow, broken teeth at Isabella.

Behind the wall of flailing vines and flung barbs, the horseman nudges his steed into motion once more. The black horse walks cautiously towards the wall of brambles, keeping itself well clear of the razor-sharp plants. On its back the armored figure stretches out one gauntleted hand and whispers something in its unnatural tongue.

Svisyrra suddenly feels the air around her growing warmer, then uncomfortably warm, then burning hot as a raging sphere of fire envelopes her.

Horseman move forward three squares, then casts Flaming Sphere on Svisyrra's position. Reflex save vs. 18 or take [roll0] fire damage.

Then the turn passes Lapis, or Svisyrra if she doesn't want to do anything.

[HerbertWest]

Robert continues running towards Lerest, hearing the sounds of battle commencing in the small village. He hoped that Damiel, Amanaki, and himself would not arrive too late to help the others. Nearing closer to the town, Robert utters a prayer to Solarion, bringing forth the bond between himself and his god to manifest within his ancestral greatsword. The blade shines brightly with light, giving off the same radius of light as a torch in the misty night. The ruby set into the pommel gives a faint inner glow as the blade becomes wreathed in orange flame.

"Lord of Valor, may our hearts be true in the face of battle. Lightbringer, illuminate our path with your sacred fire. Father of Justice, guide our hands as we punish the wicked."


Activating Robert's Divine Bond, adding the Flaming property to his +1 Greatsword.



Hit Points: 47/47
AC: 21 (23 vs. Evil)
Touch: 10 (12 vs. Evil)
Flat Footed: 21 (23 vs. Evil)
CMD: 18
Aura of Good (Ex): Robert has a Faint aura.
Divine Grace (Su): Robert gains a bonus equal to his Charisma Modifier (+3) to all Saving Throws
Aura of Courage (Su): Robert is immune to fear, magical or otherwise. All allies within 10 ft. of Robert gains a +4 morale bonus on Saving Throws against fear effects.
Divine Health (Ex): Robert is immune to all diseases, including supernatural and magic diseases, including mummy rot.
Protection from Evil (http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/coreRulebook/spells/protectionFromEvil.html) (Damiel): +2 Deflection Bonus to AC, +2 Resistance Bonus to Saves vs. Evil Creatures.
Divine Bond (Sp): Robert's +1 Greatsword is currently a +1 Flaming Greatsword. Duration: 5 minutes

[Athaleon]

Damiel picked up the pace now that he no longer had to concentrate on casting a spell. He just hoped he wasn't too late—or rushing headlong into a slaughter.


Making a token daily post since Damiel is just running (or double-moving in case of obstacles) towards the combat.

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

She observed the scene somewhat impassively, her vines were not making the short work of them she had hoped - again her lack of familiarity with the undead left some questions on that, but no matter they were delayed and the others were starting to arrive. The archers seemed a decent shot and would hopefully be able to deal with them before they made it through the distance - which left the armoured figure on horseback.

The figure puzzled her, armoured and with seemingly a living horse commanding the dead directly rather than via some link - she wasn't sure whether this was just another area where her knowledge was letting her down - but she recognised the spell for a flaming sphere, it was one she had used on occassion herself and had one crucial weakness. Her thoughts were interrupted as she noted it taking form on her location - the being had greater range than her which was unexpected, and its sphere was better formed than hers also - suddenly this fight took a more troubling nature in her mind.

Her arm scalded as she was unable to move away in time but she ducked out of sight behind the building watching the sphere for a second before she prepared to see about dealing with it, using one of the simplest spells she knew.


Move Action: Go to A2.
Standard Action: Use Create Water (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/c/create-water) to douse the sphere (hopefully ten gallons is enough - kindof a judgement call).

[Henry the 57th]

A rapid gush of crystal-clear water bursts from the sky above the fiery orb as if poured from some unseen pitcher. The liquid smothers the flames in a great cloud of white steam that rises rapidly into the sky, melding with the ever-preset fog almost immediately. Meanwhile, with a great roar of effort the troll finally tears its way free of the grasping thorns, ignoring the brambles sunk deep into its unliving flesh. It stomps out onto the lesser vines, ragged claws grasping and teeth gnashing hungrily.

Strength checks against Entangled:
Zombie Troll: [roll0] vs 17
Zombie Captain: [roll1] vs 17
Zombie Warrior 1: [roll2] vs 17
Zombie Warrior 2: [roll3] vs 17
Zombie Warrior 3: [roll4] vs 17
Zombie Warrior 4: [roll5] vs 17

Damage from the thorns:
Zombie Troll: [roll6] vs AC for [roll7] Piercing
Zombie Captain: [roll8] Piercing
Zombie Warrior 1: [roll9] Piercing
Zombie Warrior 2: [roll10] Piercing
Zombie Warrior 3: [roll11] Piercing
Zombie Warrior 4: [roll12] Piercing

Battlemap Updated (https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1Qn2ltNOK0nkE4HKD917NFRye2qCyJ7OCKdUmDkQzEOE/edit?usp=sharing)

It is Isabella's turn.

The rest of you will arrive at the bottom of the round, and will be free to act as normal next round.

[Bryconium]

Focusing on the troll Isabella takes a step backwards and unleashes another volley at the monstrosity.
Rapidshot with deadly aim and bane. Attack: [roll0], Damage: [roll1][roll2]Attack: [roll3], Damage: [roll4][roll5]
I made a mistake with my bane ability, I forgot that it increases my weapons enhancement bonus by +2. So the second attack roll would be 12 rather than ten, and the damage on the second shot would be 13 from the arrow plus 7 from bane. For the critical hit, the total damage would be 36 plus 10 from bane. Sorry about that.

[Henry the 57th]

Isabella's aim is true, putting a third arrow into the beast's chest and one directly between its eyes. The monster screeches, tumbling to one knee amidst the grasping plants. The lights in its eye sockets flicker in and out for a fraction of a second, and the troll corpse shudders. But the strength of the dead is not easily overcome, and it manages to force itself back to its feet, the blue shine in its eyes noticeably dimmed.

To the rear, the horseman stretches out one hand. Tendrils of glowing blue smoke emerge, racing across the earth to plunge themselves into the druid's summoned plants.

Horseman casts Dispel Magic against Entangle: [roll0] vs. 16

The effect is immediate, azure smoke slithering through the vines and choking the life out of them impossibly fast. In an instant thounds of plants sicken, blacken, and fall over dead, their withered husks hitting the ground at the now-free troll's feet.

"You're good," says the horseman in the language of mortals, his voice deep with raspy undertones. "But I'm better."

[tonberryking]

Lapis doesn't care about who the better caste ris, she just cares about *ending* the giant dead troll problem. with her swords held low she tries to dart in about its ankles before slashing upwards, trying to do as much damage as she possibly can to it in short order.


Despite what I asked a moment ago, I realized she has boots specifically for this situation:

Tumble: [roll0]

Attacks:
[roll1] Dueling sword
[roll2] Gladius

[roll3]
[roll4]

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

"Perhaps" she muttered in response to the enemy as they seemingly effortlessly destroyed her spell, she moved to see if her other one was still in effect. Still she had a number of tricks available to her - and one of them was now seemingly unneeded, allowing the power that bound one of her spells to her to unravel she channled it to summon some additional aid, with a few words the air above her was populated for with eagles - which immediately moved towards the mage to engage them, flying over the vines, thorns and zombies as they did, seeking to claw the figure apart.



Move action: Go to C4 to take a look at what is happening.
Standard Action: Summon 3 eagles - E5, D5, D6. (all 20 foot above the ground to avoid the vines, thorns and the trolls reach - judgement call on the vines height as it it not given, if they need to be higher I would have them higher - but they would unlikely be able to than reach the armoured figure this turn).

Eagles I think I have the movement right (160 foot charge, needing to fall 5 foot to be able to engage a large target) ending in H5, H6 and H7.

Eagle 1 Attack: [roll0] (including charge bonus), damage [roll1] slashing
Eagle 2 Attack: [roll2] (including charge bonus), damage [roll3] slashing
Eagle 3 Attack: [roll4] (including charge bonus), damage [roll5] slashing
-Critical hitting Eagle confirm: (1d20+5)[10], additional damage (1d4)[4]

[Henry the 57th]

Just as the vines wither away to nothing, Lapis darts nimbly in with both swords in hand. Ducking swiftly beneath a crude swing of the beast's mighty claw, she swings twice in quick succession. One strike does little, merely grazing the rotten meat of the troll's thigh, but the other severs the monstrosity's Achilles tendon. The undead hulk gives one last cry of pain and rage as the magic holding it together finally gives out, it's glowing eye sockets flickering out at last as it collapses to the ground with an unpleasantly squishy thud.

Meanwhile, three eagles spring into action at the druid's call, soaring easily above the combatants and thorns alike, going straight for the armored horseman. Their talons have little difficulty in striking the spellcaster, but they are clearly struggling to find purchase against his heavy armor plates. Even the bird that through chance or skill manages to drive a sharp talon into a joint in the armor's elbow seems to garner little reaction from the horseman.

At almost that exact same moment, reinforcements arrive on the field of battle. Robert, Damiel, and Amalaki, hearing the horseman's screamed commands and the sounds of combat, have come racing to their compatriots' aid.

And those reinforcements will be sorely needed for, shrieking in fury at their compatriot's fall, the walking corpses contained within the thorns redouble their efforts to break free, clawing their way towards their foes with all of their might. One, closer to the edge than most, tears free with a hiss and rushes Lapis fearlessly, jabbing its spear directly at her.

Strength checks to break free:
Zombie Captain: [roll0] vs. 17
Zombie Warrior 2: [roll1] vs. 17
Zombie Warrior 3: [roll2] vs. 17
Zombie Warrior 4: [roll3] vs. 17

Zombie Warrior 1, being right on the edge, can and does break out to make an attack against Lapis:
[roll4] vs. AC
On a hit, take [roll5] Piercing damage.

Damage from the thorns:
Zombie Captain: [roll6] Piercing
Zombie Warrior 1: [roll7] vs. AC for [roll8] Piercing
Zombie Warrior 2: [roll9] Piercing
Zombie Warrior 3: [roll10] Piercing
Zombie Warrior 4: [roll11] Piercing
Lapis: [roll12] vs. AC for [roll13] Piercing

Everyone arrives and may act as normal this round.

Red = Robert, Orange = Amanaki, Brown = Damiel, White = Eagles

Updated Battlemap (https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1Qn2ltNOK0nkE4HKD917NFRye2qCyJ7OCKdUmDkQzEOE/edit?usp=sharing)

[DaOldeWolf]

Amanaki arrives in the battlefield and takes a moment to recover his breath. It wasn't exactly easy to run over there and he wished he had been prepared for such a situation. The first thing he notices are the enemies in front.


Making a knowledge (religion) check: [roll0] to identify and know more about these undead creatures.

Going to wait for my turn to decide my action.

[Athaleon]

Damiel could make out the zombies in the conjured light, and another ominous figure on horseback further away. No time to question who it was; the zombies were already upon his companions. I should be far enough from the caravan now, he judged, and with another thought his body became light as a feather. He skimmed along the ground to pull up alongside Lapis with his sword ready.


Standard Action: Activate Flight Hex
Move Action: Fly 50' to K6, still at ground level.

[Bryconium]

With the troll down, Isabella moves her sights to the most threatening of the zombies. She takes a slight step forward as she continues to let her arrows fly.

Rapidshot, deadly aim, bane on the zombie captian. Attack:[roll0], Damage:[roll1] [roll2], Attack:[roll3], Damage:[roll4] [roll5]
Then she takes a 5 foot step forward.

[HerbertWest]

Robert surveys the terrain of the battle before him, frowning at their current strategy. He raises his voice to address his companions, in an effort to be heard over the sounds of the undead thrashing in the spikes foliage around them.

"We need a clear path to our enemy, lest they quit the field when it suits them. If the way is cleared, we can press our advantage!"

With his words, Robert begins running towards the undead that are entangled, closing as much distance as he can. He hoped the others saw reason and whomever had cast the spell heeded his advice, but if not...he would have to start trying to make his way through the rough terrain unaided.


Robert is using a full round action to run to tile L7. This should put him within range for the ranged thorn attack, but right outside of the automatic damage terrain.



Hit Points: 47/47
AC: 21 (23 vs. Evil)
Touch: 10 (12 vs. Evil)
Flat Footed: 21 (23 vs. Evil)
CMD: 18
Aura of Good (Ex): Robert has a Faint aura.
Divine Grace (Su): Robert gains a bonus equal to his Charisma Modifier (+3) to all Saving Throws
Aura of Courage (Su): Robert is immune to fear, magical or otherwise. All allies within 10 ft. of Robert gains a +4 morale bonus on Saving Throws against fear effects.
Divine Health (Ex): Robert is immune to all diseases, including supernatural and magic diseases, including mummy rot.
Protection from Evil (http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/coreRulebook/spells/protectionFromEvil.html) (Damiel): +2 Deflection Bonus to AC, +2 Resistance Bonus to Saves vs. Evil Creatures.
Divine Bond (Sp): Robert's +1 Greatsword is currently a +1 Flaming Greatsword. Duration: 5 minutes

[Henry the 57th]

One of Isabella's arrows is caught by an ill-fated thorny vine, but the other strikes true, piercing the warrior's chainmail to drive deep into its chest. The zombie falters as it long-stilled heart is pierced, doubling over and grasping at the arrow with a clawed hand. But, even as more thorns pierce its flesh, it rallies, tearing the arrow out and flinging it aside with a defiant hiss before shrieking at the other undead in their unnatural tongue. The thorns flail at them, but also mindlessly fling themselves at the charging paladin.

Behind the wall of waving thorns, the armored horseman's outline seems to blur for just a moment as his sword lashes out at the summoned birds attempting to claw at him. It darts out once, twice, three times in rapid succession, barely visible to the naked eye as anything but a silvery blur in mists.

Thorn attack vs. Robert: [roll1d20+9[/roll] (10) vs. AC for [roll0] Piercing damage.
Thorn attack vs. Damiel: 28 vs. AC for 9 Piercing damage.

Horseman atkes a swift action and then full attacks all three eagles, from top to bottom:
[roll1] vs. AC for [roll2] damage on Eagle 1.
[roll3] vs. AC for [roll4] damage on Eagle 2.
[roll5] vs. AC for [roll6] damage on Eagle 3.

If necessary, his horse will full attack any remaining birds:
Bite: [roll7] for [roll8]
Hooves 1 and 2: [roll9] and [roll10] for [roll11] and [roll12] damage, respectively.


These humanoids (and troll) sure are some corpses animated by ambient death magic or active spellcasting, commonly known as undead. They don't usually use weapons or armor, though. Or talk. What's up with that?

The horse is clearly alive, but you can't get a reading on its rider. The armor isn't showing anything.

The lightning-quick strikes from the horseman's sword don't so much cut into the eagles as obliterate them in an explosion of blood and feathers, leaving little behind but a splattered mess to suggest that they ever existed in the first place. If you hadn't seen it for yourself, you could sear that he had hit with a massive hammer instead. Even as you watch, the blood on his sword seems to be drawn into the blade itself, and his armor shimmers. Not only does the small gap the birds opened close, but the deep gray plate seems to shine with unholy vitality.

[tonberryking]

Grateful for the help, Lapis starts attempting to cut apart the zombie that tried to skewer her, her blades flashing out once more.



AC: 23 HP: 40

Assuming that all the vines from entangle and thorns and whatnot are gone, Lapis will attack this guy and then tumble to M7 so she can help flank.

Otherwise, she'll stay where she is, but for now, she's reducing her Combat Expertise to -1+1 AC. Dodge is active on the closest zombie to her.

[roll0] Dueling Sword
[roll1]
[roll2] Gladius
[roll3]


[roll4] Acrobatics. This has now used 2 of the 10 rounds the boots enhance her acro.

[DaOldeWolf]

These humanoids (and troll) sure are some corpses animated by ambient death magic or active spellcasting, commonly known as undead. They don't usually use weapons or armor, though. Or talk. What's up with that?

The horse is clearly alive, but you can't get a reading on its rider. The armor isn't showing anything.


"Gentleman, ladies, I must warn you all that we aren't dealing with your average undead! Be extremely careful when dealing with those guys but especially careful with the mysterious rider! He might be more powerful than we might imagine!" Amanaki shouts to his companions hoping to be heard by everyone on the battlefield. His next course of action is to cast the same spell he cast before once again to offer some protection to his other companions.

Casting Communal Protection from evil on Svysirra and Isabella.

[dancrilis]

Svysirra

She was dubious about a lot of this especially when the newly arrived started pawing at her as he cast, but noting the spell seemed beneficial she allowed it with a glare and returned to mulling the fight - on one hand the armoured figure's deftness with dealing with the eagles spoke of significant ability - somewhere around the level or a dire bear by her estimate.

Still as she had stated she was not capable of speaking to others tactics and if the man felt confident who was she to assume his skill or knowledge of the enemy - gesturing she muttered an inversion of the words to summon the vines - hoping this was not a mistake.

Turning back to her area of expertise again she looked at the female archer "can you kill the horse?" she didn't want to assume the womans skill at distance but removing the beast from the conflict would likely be beneficial.


Standard: Dismiss the Entanglement.
Free: Ask Isabella to shoot the horse.
Move: Go to C3.

[Henry the 57th]

The monster before Lapis resists her dueling sword, it's chain armor deflecting the one-handed strike away from its chest. But then, quick as a rabbit, she drives her gladus in between its eyes, crunching through its skull. Grotesquely, the undead warrior still stands, albeit not especially well.

As the thorns slip away, no longer maintained by the Druid's mighty magic, the undead are loosed. The corpse bearing a shield and sword reacts almost immediately, eye sockets sweeping the battlefield. It begins to hiss and wail in the unnatural language of its kind, pointing and gesturing with its sword. The effect is immediate. The corpse-puppets seem to stand up straighter, their spear thrusts suddenly more focused and precise. When they charge, it is not as a shambling pack of monsters but as a coordinated unit.

Zombie Captain takes a half action, then moves to q6.

Zombie Warrior 1 attacks Lapis: [roll0] vs. AC for [roll1] Piercing damage.

Zombie Warrior 2 moves from o5 to l6 to engage Damiel and attacks him: [roll2] vs. AC for [roll3] Piercing damage.

Zombie Warrior 3 charges Robert: [roll4] vs. AC for [roll5] Piercing damage.

Zombie Warrior 4 attacks Robert: [roll6] vs. AC for [roll7] Piercing damage.

[Bryconium]

Isabella quickly judges the distance to the horse.
"Let's find out"
With those words she lets loose another volley, the holy fire slowly fading from her eyes.

Rapid shot at the horse, dropping bane. At this range it should be a -2 penalty to hit. Attack:[roll0], Damage:[roll1], Attack:[roll2], Damage:[roll3]

[HerbertWest]

Robert steels himself as the vines release the undead warriors, holding his large sword in his hands as he awaits their arrival. One of the attacks is easily turns aside by his swordsmanship, however, the charging zombie's spear finds its way home to Robert's breastplate. The protection spell Damiel had previously cast on him was the only thing that turned the point of the spear into a glancing blow, and Robert was thankful for it. Heaving his burning blade forth, Robert let forth a condemnation of the undead warriors before him while swinging it at his current opponents.

"By the light be damned, foul corpse!"


Robert is attacking Zombie Warrior 3. I didn't see an update to the battle map, but I am assuming that since two of the zombies are attacking Robert, that if successful in his attack, he will be able to use Cleave on Zombie Warrior 4.


Smite Evil Attack vs. Zombie Warrior 3 (Power Attack -1): [roll0]
Damage to Zombie Warrior 3: [roll1]
Cleave vs. Zombie Warrior 4: [roll2]
Damage to Zombie Warrior 4: [roll3]



Hit Points: 47/47
AC: 21 (23 vs. Evil)
Touch: 10 (12 vs. Evil)
Flat Footed: 21 (23 vs. Evil)
CMD: 18
Aura of Good (Ex): Robert has a Faint aura.
Divine Grace (Su): Robert gains a bonus equal to his Charisma Modifier (+3) to all Saving Throws
Aura of Courage (Su): Robert is immune to fear, magical or otherwise. All allies within 10 ft. of Robert gains a +4 morale bonus on Saving Throws against fear effects.
Divine Health (Ex): Robert is immune to all diseases, including supernatural and magic diseases, including mummy rot.
Protection from Evil (http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/coreRulebook/spells/protectionFromEvil.html) (Damiel): +2 Deflection Bonus to AC, +2 Resistance Bonus to Saves vs. Evil Creatures.
Divine Bond (Sp): Robert's +1 Greatsword is currently a +1 Flaming Greatsword. Duration: 5 minutes
Smite Evil (Su): Robert add his Charisma Modifier (+3) to attack rolls and 2 points per Paladin Level to damage rolls against Zombie Warrior 3. Robert's Charisma Modifier is added to his Armor Class against Zombie Warrior 3.

[Henry the 57th]

Both of Isabella's arrows, shot awkwardly around the melee, go wide of their mark. Even as they thud dully into the wooden wall of a nearby house, Robert's blade ignites with holy fire. With a single swing he all but cleaves one of the undead warriors in twain, his barely slowing down as continues its ark to slice into the second foe. The first monster hit is all but obliterated by the heavy blade and holy sunfire, falling to pieces that hit the ground with a dull thud. The second gets a chance to let loose a sound that could almost be mistaken for a terrified scream before it topples over backwards.

Behind, whatever reaction the horseman might have to the fall of his minions is masked by his armor. His horse neighs a little fearfully and looks ready to take a step back, and he gives it a reassuring pat on the head. His helmeted head tilts briefly towards his sword, then back to his foes.

"I've already won this day," he says. "Further risks are pointless."

He shrieks something at his undead servants, then yanks hard on his horse's reigns. With a loud neigh, the black steed turns and bolts between a gap in the homes of Lerest, the duo rapidly fading into the mists.

He's running away at full gallop. 200ft per round away from the town.

Latest battlemap (https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1Qn2ltNOK0nkE4HKD917NFRye2qCyJ7OCKdUmDkQzEOE/edit?usp=sharing)

It is Damiel's turn.

[Athaleon]

Damiel had no time to consider the horseman or his words just yet. He parried aside a savage spear thrust at him, and used the opening to cast a spell that he hoped might turn the tide, before following up with his counterattack.


Full Round Action: Use Spell Combat to cast Chill Touch and Full Attack, using Spellstrike to get an extra attack. Attacking the zombie at L6; if the first hit causes it to flee he will direct the second attack at L5.

Concentration: [roll0] vs DC 17

Attack 1: [roll1]
Damage 1: [roll2] Slashing

Attack 2: [roll3]
Damage 2: [roll4] Slashing

Undead struck by Chill Touch must pass a Will save (DC 16) or flee as if panicked for [roll5] rounds.

[Henry the 57th]

Damiel's strike all but severs the wretched undead soldier's head in a single blow. When he follows up by plunging his blade down into the gaping wound, the creature's insides are torn open with a nauseating squelching sound. It collapses backwards soundlessly, like a puppet with its strings cut, hitting the ground as a pungent bag of rotting meat oozing thick black liquid.

Zombie Warrior 2 is dead (again). Lapis is up, followed by Amanaki and then Svisyrra.

[DaOldeWolf]

Amanaki decides to keep his spells since the opponent had already announced retreat. He decides to wait the others to finish the last undead. He turns to the companions by his side and asks if either of them needs any healing as he takes out a wand.

No point in wasting a spell for finishing up the zombies especially since I already used 2 level 2 spell slots. I will wait for the two undeads to be finished to start healing the team.

[dancrilis]

Svysirra

Nodding to the archer as she agrees with shooting the steed she was still happy enough that the horseman declared himself leaving afterwards, and she moved cautiously to confirm such - with the zombies effectively dealt with her mind turned to the barrels, yes the alpha zombie was still there and my be more of a threat than expected but she didn't feel the need to burn more power.

At the offer of healing she considered but the wound mostly heal overnight, and the rest of it could be dealt with in the morning so she shook her head, healing might be useful if there was an attack during the night after all.


Move Action: Move to E7.

[Bryconium]

With the battle winding down, Isabella turns her attention back to the remaining zombies, letting loose yet another volley of arrows at the zombie captain.
Rapid Shot and Deadly Aim. Attack: [roll0] Damage: [roll1], Attack: [roll2] Damage: [roll3]

[tonberryking]

Trying to finish up her work, Lapis swings her swords into the zombie again, not fazed by how many blows it takes to re-kill a corpse.


Dueling sword:
[roll0]
Gladius:
[roll1]

Damages:
[roll2]
[roll3]

Also rolling tumble again to get right in front of the Zombie captain so she can start working on that guy, assuming nobody else finishes him off first:
[roll4]

[Henry the 57th]

Lapis' dueling sword once again merely scraps along the creature's chainmail, but she quickly dodges around its clumsy attempt at a counterattack. With one hand, she expertly plunges her gladus into its already ruined skull, crushing the last of it with deadly efficiency. The undead warrior crumples to the ground without a word, leaving only one foe remaining. Rolling gracefully along the path of her swing, Lapis jumps back to her feet just in front of that last minion, who takes the opportunity to swing its sword at her.

Zombie Captain spends a swift action to maintain its ability, then attacks. [roll0] vs. AC for [roll1] Slashing damage.

Mere moments after the warrior strikes, however, a pair of arrows punch into its neck, eliciting an unnatural wail of pain from its dessicated throat. But the undead servant neither falls nor flees.

Robert's turn.

[HerbertWest]

Robert, having vanquished two of the undead soldiers, looks around to see Lapis engaged with the last of their opponents. The paladin was irritable that their enemy had fled the battle, and he channeled that anger into his strike against the final opponent they faced. Stalking forward, Robert brought his sword up over his head, before swinging downwards in an overhand strike, aimed at the creature.





Robert is using his move action to move to P7, and his standard action to make a melee attack against the creature.







Attack vs. Undead Warrior (Power Attack -1): [roll0]

Damage: [roll1]




Hit Points: 47/47
AC: 21 (23 vs. Evil)
Touch: 10 (12 vs. Evil)
Flat Footed: 21 (23 vs. Evil)
CMD: 18
Aura of Good (Ex): Robert has a Faint aura.
Divine Grace (Su): Robert gains a bonus equal to his Charisma Modifier (+3) to all Saving Throws
Aura of Courage (Su): Robert is immune to fear, magical or otherwise. All allies within 10 ft. of Robert gains a +4 morale bonus on Saving Throws against fear effects.
Divine Health (Ex): Robert is immune to all diseases, including supernatural and magic diseases, including mummy rot.
Protection from Evil (http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/coreRulebook/spells/protectionFromEvil.html) (Damiel): +2 Deflection Bonus to AC, +2 Resistance Bonus to Saves vs. Evil Creatures.
Divine Bond (Sp): Robert's +1 Greatsword is currently a +1 Flaming Greatsword. Duration: 5 minutes

[Henry the 57th]

Robert's sword cleaves the unholy abomination in half in a single mighty blow, sending rotten black blood gushing from its constituent parts as it too hits the dirt without a sound. All at once, the little village around you is once more empty and quiet, save for the brief sounds of horse hooves disappearing into the distance and loathsome fluids leaking slowly into the dirt road from the defeated undead. The ever-present mist, agitated by the quick but brutal fighting, slowly begins to calm down, returning to more a natural ebb and flow. You keep your guard up, wary for some trick or trap, or reinforcements springing forth from a seemingly deserting building, but as the seconds tick by that seems less and less likely. Nothing more springs from the darkness to attack.

It seems that you have really won - for now.

Your first battle is over. Take 2400 xp as a reward for doing such a good job with it. And feel free to loot. :smallsmile:.

[tonberryking]

As she ducks away from Robert's blade finishing off the captain, Lapis' hood finally comes free... revealing to the other that she really looks like a rabbit. Admittedly, she has a mop of hair under those ears that caused the lumpy shape of her hood, but she feels somewhat embarrassed by this revelation. She probably intended to keep the hood on all the way to the Inn and whatever room she could afford.

But now is not the time to be modest...

Sheathing her gladius and keeping the dueling blade held out she prods the nearest corpses through what was once the heart before letting herself get...slightly less paranoid.

"We have to find the townspeople...or at the very least we need to get the rest of the caravan to a fortified place." she says, though she dreads whatever she may find as she searches the battleground, in particular coming towards the barrels the undead forces were collecting...She knows she's not going to be happy with anything she finds, and may well even jab her sword into one if it moves in any way suggesting undeath lurks inside...


I keep forgetting what PF replaced search with... Perception?

[roll0]

[Athaleon]

"I'm calling the caravan over—they're going to be safer with us than out there alone, now." Damiel looked around to see if anyone objected before taking off, literally, back down the road.

[Bryconium]

As the horseman flees and the last zombie falls Isabella slowly relaxes her bow. Nodding to the paladin and the short rabbit-woman, Isabella moves towards the slain troll. She stops, squats, and begins examining it all over. It was unlike any zombie she has ever seen, and combined with the strange rider she was wary, and curious. Besides, it always pays to know your enemy. As she examines it, she draws a small knife and cuts off a few samples. She'd prefer an eye, but if she can't get it she'll just take a small chunk of flesh.
Knowledge Religion roll on the troll zombie, with a fairly thorough examination: [roll0]

[DaOldeWolf]

"I know they were undead but I can't stop feeling bad about this situation. There was some kind of consciousness present. These weren't just the usual kind of undead...." He thinks out loud as he moves with the group to inspect the fallen enemies. He decides to wait for the caravan owner to request for proper burial for the corpses.

Meanwhile, he decides to inspect the bodies, looking for clues or symbols that might lead the one responsible for the creation of the creatures.


Perception roll: [roll0]

[HerbertWest]

Robert nods in affirmation to Damiel's plan, before he closes his eyes, mouthing a silent prayer to his deity. The man's large blade loses it flame and glow, before Robert sheathes it upon his back once more. Securing the strap that kept the blade from falling out of the sheath's cutaway side, he approaches the remains of the undead warriors they had slain. If he thought anything about Lapis' curious appearance, his expression does not show it. He speaks to everyone present, as he kneels next to one of the corpses, perusing their arms and equipment to examine their quality.

"Well fought, everyone. It is fortunate that we were all traveling together. The caravan has the hand of providence, this night."


Robert is checking the armaments of the corpses in an attempt to determine the quality of their equipment, to try to gain an understanding of the rider's level of attention to detail. Once he finishes searching the bodies, he will study them as well to learn what he can about their construction.



Perception : [roll0]
Knowledge: Religion : [roll1]

[Henry the 57th]

As the last of the combat adrenaline settles down in their veins, the group gets to work dealing with the remains. Several examine the broken corpses of their enemies, while others look around or head back to their friends in the caravan. When Damiel does the latter, he finds the entire group huddled up in one wagon near the center, the mercenary horsemen standing an uneasy watch outside, torches and swords grasped openly. In the gloom, they brandish their weapons at the magus briefly, before they realize who it is and calm down slightly.

"You're... You're alive?" Reis slowly pokes his head out of the central wagon. "Thank the gods! We heard screaming, and fighting. What happened? Do we need to make a break for it?"

None of the dead do anything to harm you as you make your way towards the barrels they were working with. Looking inside, you can see that they all contain food or alcohol, which appears to you to be unscathed.

One of the eyes is a little squishier than it should be, while the other has just rotted away. The former might be keep-able, for a little while at least.

As to the troll itself... you're not sure if there's such a thing as "professional" necromancy, but that's what you would call this. Care has evidently been taken to preserve or replace the muscles and bones holding it together, while only those bits that don't actually do anything for the undead creature have been left to rot. Two yellowed bones have been augmented with iron rods to keep them from snapping under stress. Also, a few of its claws appear to have been sharpened, or in one case replaced by a metal spike.

Also, while you're digging around near its somewhat opened stomach, you notice a shiny gleam in the moonlight. Looking closer, you can see a small number of undigested gemstones in the beast's gullet amidst the rotting goop and dregs of acid.

These zombies aren't wearing any kind of insignia or symbol. Their armor is distressingly plain chainmail shaped into simple shirts, while their spears are simple heads of sharpened steel on wooden shafts. The captain's sword does appear to be of superior craftmanship, but is also unadorned steel, as is its shield and breastplate. They are also each carrying a number of small flasks filled with a deep purple-black liquid. Looking over them all, you can't help but notice that:

1) The equipment on these creatures is disturbingly uniform.

2) The weapons are bloodied, but there's a distinct lack of wear and tear on any of their gear. It looks rather fresh - definitely not pulled from some moldering tomb.

Both of these are unusual in the extreme among groups of shambling dead. Any weapons they do carry are usually looted or taken from their own grave sites.

The spears are simple wooden shafts affixed with heads of sharp steel. The grunts' chainmail shirts are unpolished, unadorned steel. The captain is carrying a nicer-looking sword, but it and its breastplate and sword are simple steel as well. Nothing especially fancy about any of it.

And you should probably make a Perception roll if you want too much more.

[tonberryking]

Lapis wrinkles her button nose, even though her discovery wouldn't normally illicit such a reaction. She flips the lid off with her sword tip and gestures for Robert and Svysirra over with a wave.

"This is altogether wrong. I can't pretend to understand necromantic thinking, but why would anything undead, or anyone commanding them bother with collecting stores of food? " she seems earnestly perplexed.

"We shouldn't partake of these morsels. I think something is even more wrong than just zombies being present..."

[Bryconium]

The gems worry Isabella. Though it is entirely possible that they are just an accident or storage, it is still a strange find and could potentially be dangerous or heretical. Considering this, she carefully and openly collects the gems in a separate pouch for future examination. She then moves over with Robert, Svysirra, and Lapis, regardless of whether she was called over or not. When she reaches the others, she says,
This was no ordinary necromancer. The troll at least was... distressingly well made, with iron fortification. That these professional undead would be transferring food worries me as well. Though they could simply be supplies for a larger force, I doubt it. I agree that we shouldn't eat the food, though I shall take some to see what, if any, mysteries it holds."

[DaOldeWolf]

These zombies aren't wearing any kind of insignia or symbol. Their armor is distressingly plain chainmail shaped into simple shirts, while their spears are simple heads of sharpened steel on wooden shafts. The captain's sword does appear to be of superior craftmanship, but is also unadorned steel, as is its shield and breastplate. They are also each carrying a number of small flasks filled with a deep purple-black liquid. Looking over them all, you can't help but notice that:

1) The equipment on these creatures is disturbingly uniform.

2) The weapons are bloodied, but there's a distinct lack of wear and tear on any of their gear. It looks rather fresh - definitely not pulled from some moldering tomb.

Both of these are unusual in the extreme among groups of shambling dead. Any weapons they do carry are usually looted or taken from their own grave sites.


Amanaki thinks that whomever is behind this most possess a good amount of resources. His first though is to analyze everything starting for the flasks. Suddenly, he stops himself as he remembers what one of his teachers in the academy used to say. When dealing with magical artifacts, its important to analyze them before getting in contact with them. He repeats to himself.

Deciding that the flasks holded greater importance, he decides to start by analyzing them. He chants a few magical words and begins to look for any magical auras.

Casting detect magic to analyze the objects on the undead to look for magical auras.

Going to try to analyze them for my three turns so here is a knowledge arcana roll in case I manage to wait for that long.

Knowledge arcana: [roll0]

[Athaleon]

"You're... You're alive?" Reis slowly pokes his head out of the central wagon. "Thank the gods! We heard screaming, and fighting. What happened? Do we need to make a break for it?"


"We were attacked by undead, led by some kind of necromancer. He fled and we dispatched the zombies, but we don't know if more of them are about. We'd better regroup and try to find some shelter in this town, it's better than trying the wilderness tonight." Damiel spouted off breathlessly, motioning with his sword for them to follow.

[dancrilis]

Svysirra

She noted the last zombie fall impassively as she moved closer to the barrels cautiously only to be outpaced by the anthropomorphic rabbit, stopping to allow the woman to examine the situation first she was suprised when she was actually queried on it "three thoughts occur, firstly and most prominently - they were not prepared for us which means that bird was most likely working for a seperate party, secondly there leader cared for his living horse and showed it compassion - meaning they are not opposed to working with the living, and thirdly they were pouring in some ingredient to the barrels when we intruded on them", she did not draw the conclusions for them but in her mind it was obvious - there was no way that any caravan master was going to leave such a trove of merchantable foodstuffs behind if they could not tell anything was wrong with them, and so the ingredient could do its work.

Beginning to walk to the barrels she kept a lookout for hive insects, such as ants termites or the like and where they might be nesting - they would have a much better feel for this town than she would get if she could contact them. Finally stepping to the barrels she lay her hand on one cast a simple but effective spell so she could see the results firsthand to cleanse the foodstuffs.


Knowledge Nature (looking for social vermin that would have a nest in the town): [roll0]

Casts Purify Food and Drink (http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/coreRulebook/spells/purifyFoodAndDrink.html) on a barrel.
Perception (Noting any changes that occur with the goods after the spell, smell, sight, etc): [roll1]

[Henry the 57th]

Near the caravan, Reis breathes a sigh of relief and seems to move to exit his wagon, but one of the mercenaries stops him with an outstretched arm. He has not lowered his sword, and is glaring suspiciously at Damiel.

"You lot rush into the mists after a shriek. We hear fighting and more screaming. Next thing we know, one of you comes back, completely alone, with tales of undead and tells us we should follow him into town." His eyes are narrow. "That doesn't seem like the setup for an ambush at all."

________

Back in town, Svysirra, after a brief and fruitless search for social insects, casts a spell over one of the containers of food. There is, to the best of her ability to determine, no visible change to it in reaction.

None of the weapons or armor the undead are carrying have any magic to them, but all of the small vials radiate a faint aura of Necromancy.

[DaOldeWolf]

Amanaki decides to grab the sword and the shield puts them inside his bag of holding without a second though. Even if the weapons are not really for his personal use, he was sure they could be traded at a later time if someone else was interested on them. He decides to take the flasks too, but he makes sure that they are properly closed before putting them in his bag. He could inspect them properly later when they have set up somewhere. For now, they seemed harmless enough to be taken with him. Taking the auras in consideration, he guessed that they could be related to the creation or maintenance of the undead.


Going to take the captain's sword, the shield and the flasks of necromantic purple liquid and put them in my bag of holding.

[dancrilis]

Svysirra

What kind of a town didn't have colonies? ants, wasps anything she considered getting irked at the people who lived here who may have sought to drive them out, "probably deserved to be eaten murdered by zombies" she muttered angrily. Louder she continued "I am not noticing any change between a purified barrel and an unpurified one - so likely not a poison or a disease. Also there are seemingly no insect colonies here ... which is odd" she seemed more put out by the second than the first.

She would have went back to the caravan to check on it and her Roc but she was annoyed no and instead let out a loud screech to tell it to come to her cautiously but not for combat instead as she made her way towards whatever building was largest likely a town meeting hall possibly doubling as a tavern. Reaching out to her Roc as it landed and stroking it to calm herself and the bird "no bloody insect colonies" she muttered again as she did so, Testing of the door was open she would knock loadly if it wasn't.

[Athaleon]

Near the caravan, Reis breathes a sigh of relief and seems to move to exit his wagon, but one of the mercenaries stops him with an outstretched arm. He has not lowered his sword, and is glaring suspiciously at Damiel.

"You lot rush into the mists after a shriek. We hear fighting and more screaming. Next thing we know, one of you comes back, completely alone, with tales of undead and tells us we should follow him into town." His eyes are narrow. "That doesn't seem like the setup for an ambush at all."

Damiel wanted to roll his eyes, but the man had a point. "Fair enough. If I bring the others around would you follow?"

[Bryconium]

As the druid cleanses one barrel, Isabella removes a few vegetables from another, and carefully stores them in a separate pouch.

[HerbertWest]

Robert rises from his examination of the gear of the undead warrior, his brow furrowed. He couldn't tell much from the equipment, other than that it seemed to be in decent repair, which was odd for undead. Straightening himself, Roberts begins slowly pacing through the general area of their battle, peering over to what Lapis was doing, meandering towards Isabella and Amanaki, and just generally keeping an eye out on the general situation. He hadn't gleaned much from his own observations, and thought it would be prudent to start forming a plan with the others.

"Well then, what do we know? We know that the undead soldiers' armaments are not in disrepair, which is not normal. We know that the food in the barrels is for the most part untainted, at least as far as we can determine. The undead soldiers were taken care of and physically fortified, as Isabella's investigation has determined, and we know that the rider was using his thralls to gather food and supplies. From that, I believe we can assume that the rider is living, at the very least. It would make sense then, that he or she would need food and supplies for their own sustenance, with the decline in farming people to produce them. Based on the amount of supplies, they may even be feeding living allies."

Robert seemed to be thinking aloud, but looks between his companions, curious as to their input on the matter. Noticing Svysirra's wounds, Robert focuses his attention on her while he awaits a response from the others.

"Svysirra, correct? Might I tend to your wounds? They look painful."

[dancrilis]

Svysirra

She turned to the armoured man and frowned "most of these will be healed with a nights rest, and the rest I can solve with my own magics in the morning" tilting her head to the side as she examined him in much the same manner that the Roc also did "I expect conflict during the night - your powers might be better used than".

Turning back to the door she was at she was tempted to start to locate a window do break in "your analysis is fair but I suspect that the rider may be undead also, but let me rethink that - we also know he is capable of casting what is commonly refered to as a flaming sphere, dispeling magic, and hits eagles with roughly the force of a dire bear - while wearing what I understand is heavy and I believe metal armour, that is somewhat rare", she mulled over the horsemans movements for a moment to determine what he most seemed to be and whether he moved naturally as one instead of some animated thing.


Knowledge Nature (to identify humaniods, monsterous humaniods, giant etc to figure out the horsemans creature type - and if he moved like a living one): take 10: Result 22 (wish I had done that earlier).

[HerbertWest]

Svysirra
"I expect conflict during the night - your powers might be better used than".


Robert shakes his head in disagreement with the Druid, but he does not step towards her. He did not want his body language to appear threatening, when he was only offering to help.

"I believe your spells and magic are a more valuable asset in the morning than my ability to close wounds tonight. Please, I insist."

[Henry the 57th]

Outside of town, the mercenary appears to consider Damiel's words for a moment, glancing briefly over at his less talkative partner. Even so, he keeps a wary eye on the magus and never lowers his flame and steel.

"That depends on what condition you bring them in, doesn't it? But it would certainly make your story more credible if we had more than one witness."

_______________

In Lerest proper, Sivsyrra locates a decent-sized building with a shut wooden door that looks like it might have seen official use, though it's not exactly labeled. The door swings open easily enough at a push, revealing a shattered lock and a dark interior common room littered with overturned benches and a smashed wooden podium. There are some dark stains on the floor, but no immediately visible bodies.

His armor was certainly built consistently with the humanoid body type and was sized appropriately for, say, a taller-than-average elf or human male. It wasn't thickly-built or huncbacked. As to the actual rider, that's trickier. His head didn't twist three hundred and sixty degrees and he didn't seem to have detachable limbs, but pinning down whether he was living or not is more difficult with your limited data. None of his movements were impossible for a magically-empowered humanoid, but he wasn't exactly moving under his own power most of the time. The horse didn't seem scared of him, though, which would be unusual if he were a member of the living dead.

[dancrilis]

Svysirra

"Possibly alive - likely a human or a tall elf, nothing about his movements were beyond living ability, I would need more controlled circumstances to confirm if his mouth was moving for breath and if his speech seemed to hold breath or was more magic based" she shrugged as she moved into the building noting the stains - noting was eating them which made her feel this was all somewhat unnatural, "likely this was a sudden attack and possibly by more than we encountered, a rear guard? meh not my area - possibly captives or supplies depending on viewpoint have been taken" she sighed as she mulled over the offer of healing "fine I will accept healing" fixing him with a look "don't be pawing me" she rolled up a sleeve and allowed him access to the burn.

"If the inhabitants of this town are not appearing we should likely return to Reis - if he knows this town he might know shelter locations and I am seeing no local wildlife to guide us, and I want to ask someone about that" there was a hint of malice in the last piece - the lack of insects had angered her more than the dead attacking or the missing people.

[HerbertWest]

"fine I will accept healing" fixing him with a look "don't be pawing me" she rolled up a sleeve and allowed him access to the burn.

"If the inhabitants of this town are not appearing we should likely return to Reis - if he knows this town he might know shelter locations and I am seeing no local wildlife to guide us, and I want to ask someone about that" there was a hint of malice in the last piece - the lack of insects had angered her more than the dead attacking or the missing people.

Robert smiles to Svysirra's acceptance, closing the distance between the two.

"I will do you no such dishonor, my lady."

Robert's gauntlets hands hover over the druid's burnt arm, his dominant, left hand above, and his right hand below, palms facing each other with the burnt appendage between them. With a prayer to Solarion, the crusader applies what healing his touch can provide, a golden light washing over Svysirra's wounds.

"Father Solarion, May your blessing of light and life full those who are upon the path of justice."


Lay on Hands: [roll0]

[Athaleon]

Outside of town, the mercenary appears to consider Damiel's words for a moment, glancing briefly over at his less talkative partner. Even so, he keeps a wary eye on the magus and never lowers his flame and steel.

"That depends on what condition you bring them in, doesn't it? But it would certainly make your story more credible if we had more than one witness."

"Fine. Sit tight," Damiel said somewhat tersely as he turned to run back into town.

When he caught up with the rest of the party, he announced "our employers fear that I mean to ambush them. I suppose they felt my going back alone was suspicious. Apparently the 'all-clear' will be more believable if we all return."

[tonberryking]

Lapis steps over to Robert's following the brief bout of healing, looking up at Svysirra impassively.

"Actually, we should look for survivors before returning to the caravan. I don't think we've just slain the inhabitants, given how they were armed, but we don't know who could be lurking in these silent buildings." she gestures with her sword. "I don't like not knowing that."

As for Damiel, at his return, Lapis nearly asks if they want to see the Troll Head, but refrains from voicing that.

[dancrilis]

Svysirra

Looking at her arm some pain remained but a few hours sleep would fix that, "thank you" she grunted, as they returned to the others "signs of violance in that building" she pointed "no indication of visera or bodies which is odd - dark stains I am assuming to be blood are hardened into stains so whatever happened her likely was some time ago".

Looking at Damiel "the man sized bird that was watching over them leaving in responce to a bird call didn't tip them off that everything was fine" she sighed "fine", looking at the rabbit lady "do what you want, I am going to have a talk with our employer he likely has just found himself in possession of a free town - and frankly I don't care if there are survivors unless they can tell me where the colony insects are", there was always the chance that she had simply overlooked something about it but nothing was springing to mind.

As she began to walk back to the caravan she stopped and looked at the archer giving her the barest nod of respect "you did well", it was about as much compliment as she felt like giving - the woman had targeted reasonable enemies and could follow reasonable suggestions.

[DaOldeWolf]

Amanaki agreed with the conclusions taken from Robert but remained silent about the subject. For him, there were still too many pieces of the puzzle missing. It was too early to assume they knew anything at all about what transpired here. He then heard Lapin´s suggestion of looking for survivors but he disagreed on the subject.

"We don't know if there are any survivors so our first priority should be taking care of the people we know that are still alive. We can search for survivors after we get back here with them. The threat is gone for now. I am sure that if there are any survivors, they can wait till we return with the caravan."Amanaki then follows Svysirra back to the caravan.

[dancrilis]

Svysirra

She noted Amanaki following her - "what is your name" a blunt question given her current mood before she immediatly waved it off as not relevant "more importantly you use magic of some kind - I am not classically trained in magic traditions, that horseman cast a sphere of fire with considerable expertise - my kind could do that but we do not wear metal armour and I understand that most arcane casters would have difficulty while wearing any armour, do you know of any traditions that could confidently cast that spell while wearing armour as our enemy was?" she queried.

[DaOldeWolf]

Svysirra

She noted Amanaki following her - "what is your name" a blunt question given her current mood before she immediatly waved it off as not relevant "more importantly you use magic of some kind - I am not classically trained in magic traditions, that horseman cast a sphere of fire with considerable expertise - my kind could do that but we do not wear metal armour and I understand that most arcane casters would have difficulty while wearing any armour, do you know of any traditions that could confidently cast that spell while wearing armour as our enemy was?" she queried.

"Amanaki" he answers as he makes a vow. He goes back to standing straight up after realizing the question was mostly a formality from her side. He then starts thinking about her question. "Some are capable to cast in armor as long as it isn't too restricting like a chain shirt. I recall there being one type of caster capable of casting in a full set of armor in Balo." Amanaki pauses for a second and thinks if he can remember more details.


Knowledge arcana to explain an armor wearing spellcaster (Maybe if he knows stuff about the magus): [roll0]

[Athaleon]

"All right, let's see if this is enough for them," Damiel sighed as the group returned to the caravan. "Caution is one thing, but the longer they stay separated from us the more danger they're in." He was walking again, the flight effect having worn off in the meantime. "Casting in armor's not that difficult," he continued, "I can do it just fine myself, and I'm not a prodigy by any means. It has to be light armor, nothing too restrictive, but in principle I don't see why you couldn't cast in full armor with enough practice."

[HerbertWest]

Robert watches as the group continue with their discussion and some of the group members begin to head back towards the caravan. Instead of going with the main group, however, the paladin lingers behind with Lapis, addressing those that are departing to assure Reis that it is not an ambush.

"I will stay with Lapis to check for survivors. Time may be of the essence if there are wounded."

With that, he turned his attention to Lapis, walking towards her and surveying the quiet village of Lerest. Visually scanning the village, Robert tries to discern if there is any movement coming from any of the visible points in the village's buildings, to try to ascertain a clear starting point. It was strange that they had not seen any villagers, at least dead bodies out in the open if the undead had assaulted the village, and he was growing suspicious.


Robert is using Perception to determine if there is any apparent life in the village, other than the party.
Perception: [roll0]



Hit Points: 47/47
AC: 21
Touch: 10
Flat Footed: 21
CMD: 18
Aura of Good (Ex): Robert has a Faint aura.
Divine Grace (Su): Robert gains a bonus equal to his Charisma Modifier (+3) to all Saving Throws
Aura of Courage (Su): Robert is immune to fear, magical or otherwise. All allies within 10 ft. of Robert gains a +4 morale bonus on Saving Throws against fear effects.
Divine Health (Ex): Robert is immune to all diseases, including supernatural and magic diseases, including mummy rot.

[Henry the 57th]

The group splits briefly into two, with Damiel, Svisyrra, and Amanaki walking back to the caravan to ease the suspicious mercenaries, while Robert, Lapis, and Isabellla remain in Lerest proper. Those returning to the small wagon train find that the sellswords have yet to drop their guard, and still seem a little hesitant to just follow them into Lerest after the fighting. But this time, Reis seems more willful.

"Oh lay off it already," he says. "We've spent too long in this mist already! If they were killed in an ambush then whatever did it would have come for us by now. I'm not going to huddle around any longer and if you want to do so, consider your employment terminated."

With that, the caravan master walks briskly - almost scurrying, really - back to his front wagon and gets the donkies in motion. When the other two drivers do the same, the still-reluctant mercenaries have little choice but to come along for the ride.

________

Back in town, Robert begins the process of searching for survivors by simply looking around peering in a few windows and looking briefly inside the apparent town hall Svisyrra had left open. Though he does find some blackened blood, he fails to see any indication of survivors, human or otherwise. The only life he spots on his brief sojourn is a handful of termites poking out of a little hole in the side of a wooden house. Their oversized mandibles are clicking in agitation, antennae waving frantically about.

You've heard of people who can cast in armor with specialized training and a more narrow focus on certain spells, which are more amendable to such a combination. You've never heard of a necromancer doing it, though.

You notice that every single building you check has had it's locks smashed open, even though the doors were shut. Also, while there is blood on the floors and in the dirt, it's definitely not an entire village's worth blood. And no bodies are to be found.

[DaOldeWolf]

Amanaki remembers a bit more information he heard about the different types of arcana caster in his lessons. "There is a method to cast arcane magic even while wearing a full plate. But it limits the spells one can cast by a good amount. There are spells that you cant adapt to this method of casting. The issue here is that I have never heard of a necromancer capable of achieving this."

He crosses his arms as he becomes silent once again. He wonders if the mysterious knight was the necromancer or if this meant that the necromancer could be an ally of the knight instead. "Wait a minute, sir. We are back to offer our services." Amanaki replies joining into the conversation. "The rest of the group is waiting for us. Lets go in there together."

[Bryconium]

The hardiness of the zombies disturbed Isabella, this rider was unlike any she had seen before. His parting words also worried her, as he had claimed that he had already won the day, even though he left the foodstuff behind. She pushes those thoughts aside for the moment, survival was paramount at this moment. As Robert searched for survivors she began to search for any hidden undead or any signs of what the undead and the rider where doing in Lerest before her arrival.

Perception: [roll0]

[tonberryking]

Lapis goes to the town's inn after seeing Robert search the town hall. Still holding her naked sword aloft, she pointedly ignores the arriving caravan (unless they're mistreating her horse) and tries to enter the building, her eyes adjusting better and quicker to the darkness. She worries that what she may find inside, bodies, or worse, stores of potentially poisoned food...


Searching the Inn, or in lieu of that, the next biggest building in town: [roll0]

[dancrilis]

Svysirra

She takes the information provided to her in clearly but unfortunately it didn't do her much good, "so baring additional information we might assume he follows your tradition" indicates Damiel "might be worth hearing more about that than so".

As she arrived at the Reis she glowered at the mercenaries but was happy to be moving back inside "things you should know Reis, firstly the town seems deserted, secondly they dead did not seem warned of our coming - so the bird was likely a different party, third I have not noted any colony insects, that last is more important than the others as if this town is so devoid of life as that it indicates something far worse than a mere raid by the dead".

She did sooth the beasts of the caravan when she was they casually patting the horses and ponys, and gently taking the reigns of Lapis's horse "you will be with your partner soon" she told the animal while maintaining an awareness of its mood - them she quite liked on the journey and was happy with them, "I can purify food and drink of contaminants - but not of curses or the like, so anything we find inside should likely be purified and checked for spells - the dead certaintly had an interest in the food and drink for whatever reason".

[Athaleon]

"All that being said, an empty town is better shelter than none at all. And most importantly we're all back together." Damiel tried to sound optimistic. "There is a mystery to solve here, but we do need to secure some shelter for the night, as well as for the horses. A sturdy house, with a walled yard for the horses, would be better than an inn, I think. And don't wander off by yourself," Damiel grumbled as he followed Lapis into the inn.

[HerbertWest]

With a furrowed brow, Roberts comes back around to the gathering area in Lerest, near where he had left his companions by the barrels, and the littered corpses of the undead were strewn about. Looking for Lapis, when Robert finally spots her, he calls out to her, quite loudly to be heard.

"Have you found anyone?"

Expression grim, the paladin folded his arms across his chest, thinking while mentioning his findings to the group as a whole. The situation was growing worse, in his opinion, rather than better, and each new revelation was putting a wrinkle in the fabric of this mystery.

"All of the doors have had their locks broken open...some old blood, but not enough for the entire population to have been put to the sword...I believe we are dealing with a possible kidnapping."

[Bryconium]

"Wild speculation will get us nowhere, what we need to do now is rest, and carefully examine what evidence we have. Otherwise we play into our enemies hands, indirectly or not."
Isabella is still searching for signs of what the undead were doing in town.

[Henry the 57th]

While those in town continue their search for evidence on what went on in Lerest, the caravan makes its way into the city proper. Reis listens carefully to what the druid has to say, and he does seem somewhat relieved when she tells him that the bird and the walking dead were apparently unaffiliated. His mercenaries and fellow travelers, while looking somewhat nervous to be following you into a silent town, go along mostly without issue. It's when the small group actually gets close enough to see the dispatched undead with their own eyes that there's some reaction.

The two mercenaries wince visibly at the sight of the toppled troll, easily large enough to grab one of them in each hand and bite their heads off. The few travelers still huddled in the wagon begin to whisper a little fearfully, with the elderly priestess mumbling some prayer under her breath. Master Reis struggles to contain a horrified gasp the moment he lays eyes on one of the humanoid undead, covering his mouth as his eyes seem to grow to the size of dinner plates.

Looking carefully around, you find a couple of different data-points:

1) All of the buildings, without exception, have had the locks on their doors broken in, but have closed doors.

2) The road near the center of town, not far from where the zombies were gathering food barrels, shows signs of recent heavy use, with hundreds of boot tracks this way and that, along with other marks that are harder to read.

3) There are some wagons loosely arranged in what appears to be a marketplace towards the south end of town (nearest to Kison). From the looks of the dirt road there were quite recently more wagons here than there are now. You can make out the tracks in the earth where they were sitting, and they haven't been worn away at all.

4) There are no bodies. Or living citizens. Anywhere.

You locate a pleasant-looking one story building not far from where you slew the zombie troll. However, on entering the common room just inside, you are horrified and nauseated by the sight of two half-burnt rabbit carcasses on a spit above some flickering embers. The smell is overpowering and supremely disgusting to your keen bunny nose. You turn right around and go outside to wretch.

[DaOldeWolf]

"While we are on the subject of the undead, I was wondering if you could lend me a couple of your men to give these bodies proper burial." Amanaki requests to the caravan master as he vows down. Hemprich remains up and continues flying around his caster. It still was mad about the lack of reward for his services.


in case a Diplomacy roll is deemed necessary:[roll0]

[Athaleon]

Damiel stepped smartly to one side as Lapis rushed past him to vomit. "Left their food in a hurry. And the embers are still hot," he observed. "This happened just hours ago. What do you think," he asked Lapis in the midst of his nausea, "of having the caravan hole up somewhere sturdy while we chase down this riddle?"

[dancrilis]

Svysirra

"Don't bother buring them - birds and others will pick them clean soon enough, might actually attract some insects by tomorrow morning which will be more useful than us in scouting this town anything worthwhile" walking over to one of the zombies she cast purify food and drink on it "speaking of which" she looked at her Roc "all yours" looking at the town "I suppose what happened her might matter later so might as well see about figuring it out".

Walking to where the barrels were and where the zombies had been standing she noted how they walked and how the horse walked, and began to track there movements around town, noting if they were alone, if not how many were in the group, how long ago this happened, if any townsfolk fought back and fell, if anyone has ran and escaped etc - she intended to have a full understanding of exactly what happened here based on the tracks and markings left behind, including where the beasts of burden in the town were or the pets - while not as used to working within a town as the wild she was confident in her ability to answer the larger questions, albeith still rattled from not finding expected signs of life, occassionally using her magic to assist her.


Should probably take 10, but for the level of information probably better to roll - thinking this would be like one of those programs where the cop pieces together everything (or a lot) about a crime scene based on how a room looks.
I expect she will spend a hour or more on this, your call.

Using Guidance (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/g/guidance) as needed to assist periodically.
Survival: [roll0]

If multiple rolls should be made I am happy for them to be considered as taking 10 (for a result of 25 with Guidance).

[Bryconium]

"Now is the time to rest. I suggest we get some sleep, and work on the mystery in the morning, when we are more prepared."
With that, Isabella goes in search of a house to bunker down in for the night.

[DaOldeWolf]

Hemprich is very annoyed about what happened since getting a reward now seemed unlikely. Hearing Svysirra about the corpses luring insects, gave Amanaki the idea to try to get the reward from there. "It might actually help and I suppose its for the best. I just hope some delicious bugs come for Hemprich. I suppose we need the sleep."

[HerbertWest]

"Now is the time to rest. I suggest we get some sleep, and work on the mystery in the morning, when we are more prepared."
With that, Isabella goes in search of a house to bunker down in for the night.

"Indeed. We should probably find a defensible building, have everyone sleep in it together, and take watches through the night. I do not mind to take first watch."

Noticing Reis' reaction to the undead, Robert approaches the caravan leader with a look of concern on his face. He had seen that look on men's faces before, and he was quite sure he knew what it meant in this instance. Even so, he asked the question that he knew he must ask the man, his voice solemn and quiet as he addresses the man.

"Master Reis, did you know these men?"

[tonberryking]

"Gods damn it..."

Lapis swears a bit and yells at the closest person to remove the burning food, furious at herself for the loss of face. When she calms down she looks over to Damiel evenly.

"The townsfolk were here a short while ago, I agree, but has anyone found anything other than bloodstains? Dragging off, force marching or anything else someone could do with bodies living or dead would leave a trail. And Gods damn it again, I already said we should find a place to fortify!"

This is turning out to not be her night.

[Henry the 57th]

"I... I suppose I could lend you some men," Reis hesitantly answers Amanaki, hands shaking slightly on their reins. He looks around nervously. "In the morning, of course. Not... not tonight. Not here."

Meanwhile, Svissyrra's Roc friend looks down at the broken zombie almost curiously, twisting its head a little as if unsure what to make of it. The great bird bends over to put its head right up against the undead slave's flesh, and appears almost to be sniffing it. Without warning its beak pecks quickly at one section on an arm. Immediately the Roc gives a shrill shriek and spits back out a small strip of undead flesh, then stamps the corpse with one taloned foot. It ruffles its feathers indignantly, giving its druid companion an irritated glare. The proud and majestic bird then proceeds to clean a spot under its wings.

Isabella easily locates any number of homes that would be capable of housing the entire group for the night, albeit in most cases not particularly comfortably. The inn is the most obvious target, being one of the largest buildings in town and able to sleep at least twenty guests by design, with a small stable available next to it. There is also a larger farmhouse near the south end of town which looks to have hosted someone's extended family not long ago. The town hall, though lacking amenities such as beds or food, is also large enough to play host to everyone at once. There are also at least five storage barns on the outskirts of town that have been broken into. None of them, however, were evidently built with defense especially in mind. They are simple structures of wood and stone, with wooden doors glass-less squares coevered by curtains to serve as windows.

When Robert approaches Reis, the older man pauses for just a moment, then slowly shakes his head. "No... never seen 'em before. Just a little surprised to see them so close to Kison is all."

Make a Sense Motive check.

It takes you a while to piece something together, but after a good little while searching you think you've discerned at least a rough estimate of it. The zombies remaining seem to have been a rearguard or detachment from a force you'd peg for at least four times the size of the one you fought. The tracks lead every which where, but the seem to step in a far more human-like fashion than your usual undead. The horse, as far as you can tell, moved exactly like an ordinary horse would. You also locate the prints of at least one more troll, and bizarrely enough, a set of tracks that just seems to appear from nowhere. They're light, humanoid-sized, and wearing finer boots than the crude zombie footwear. They just pop up at one point, go side-by-side with the horse tracks for perhaps twenty-five yards, then vanish into thin air.

The larger group of zombies is easy to track - they broke out of Lerest to the northeast, towards the Wyrmspine Mountains and its countless cave networks, old keeps, and ruined dwarven settlements. It's at least a three-day march from here across the Sea of Grass. They were clearly dragging several loaded carts behind them and trampled straight across the plains rather than using a road, which makes it even more obvious where they went. They seem to have approached Lerest from the same northern road you came in on.

There are a set of apparently communal stables near the town's southern edge, which have obviously been ransacked. A little ways west of the main village, admit a fenced field of rising corn, you find a chicken coop next to a storage barn. When you peer inside, you get your first taste of life in Lerest, in the form of a trio of hens.

[HerbertWest]

When Robert approaches Reis, the older man pauses for just a moment, then slowly shakes his head. "No... never seen 'em before. Just a little surprised to see them so close to Kison is all."

Make a Sense Motive check.



Robert studies Reis' response, watching the man deliver his excuse for looking so shocked and emotional at the sight of the bodies. The paladin knew that grief came in all forms, and Reis was not the first man he had met that did not want to admit how close his heart truly was to the matter at hand.


Sense Motive: [roll0]

[Henry the 57th]

The caravan master flinches a little under the paladin's gaze, but holds eye contact. The two horsemen saddle up beside their employer's wagon, looking puzzled at the slowdown.

You get the sense he's lying - that he's seeing something familiar here. It's causing him more fear than grief, though.

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

"You're just fussy, I cleaned it and might eat it myself later depending on if I find myself needing to be something else" she said to the roc as it turned its beak up at the carrion, but if the bird had had its fill with the owl she was not going to make a point of it.

Beginning her investigation as the others went about searching for shelter she was happy to lose herself somewhat in it the appearing tracks were likely the man dismounting from the horse but in the light she couldn't really confirm that against the weight of the horse tracks, and that they were making way with carts indicated that they would be moving slowly - still it was worrying that there direction of movement was different from the direction of attack but that was a problem for a different day.

Over all she was happy with her nights work, and happier when she found the hens - dismissing eating them in favour of talking and eggs she make herself at ease with them and than rounded up some eggs for dinner - likely something the hens were fairly used to but allowing the power of nature to guide her regardless, and cooked them in the nearby house away from there watchful eyes, her daily meal complete she returned to the hens to begin a conversation not that she expected to hear much from them - again trusting the power of nature to aid her before she assumed the form of a vulture to engage with them.

She focused on asking them questions about what they had heard from the town and letting them know that the humans were gone and that they would need to make a new life, possible on a different farm - and also checking if they had noticed any colony insects around.


Use guidance with Handle Animal (to collect eggs): Take 10 - result, 22.

Cook eggs (and use purify food and drink to ensure they are not diseased), and eat them

Use guidance again.
Assume the form of a vulture to (I am assuming that birds all fall into the same general grouping).
Wild Empathy: [roll0], to get them in a talking mood and try to get as much information as possible from them.

[HerbertWest]

The caravan master flinches a little under the paladin's gaze, but holds eye contact. The two horsemen saddle up beside their employer's wagon, looking puzzled at the slowdown.

You get the sense he's lying - that he's seeing something familiar here. It's causing him more fear than grief, though.

"You do not have to lie to me, Master Reis. I will not judge you for your thoughts or fears. Please, the less you tell me, the more danger we are all in. Every piece of information helps us, with how little we have to go on at the moment."

Robert inwardly admonishes himself for the stern gaze he gave the caravan master. It was difficult at times to not behave as a nobleman, but a simple traveler. He would have to work harder to not give away his lineage and origins in the future. Nonetheless, he was trying to convince the man to speak his mind, in hopes that it would help them with the mystery at hand, and if not, to help Reis' conscious.


Robert is attempting Diplomacy to have Reis tell him the truth of what bothers him.
Diplomacy: [roll0]

[Bryconium]

Isabella gives Lapis a quick glance, then goes about checking and fortifying the inn so they can sleep tonight.

I want to try to make a makeshift barricade ring around where we will be sleeping. While I don't expect any trouble, Isabella would want to be prepared.

[Athaleon]

Damiel put his hands up in an exaggerated gesture of backing off from Lapis, before turning to lend Isabella an eye and possibly a hand in fortifying the inn.

[DaOldeWolf]

Amanaki decides to follow the situation and help fortifying. He needed his rest to get ready for the next day and he was starting to feel tired. He even yawns a couple of times.

[Henry the 57th]

In Lerest proper, Isabella, Damiel, and Amanaki get to work doing what they can to fortify the inn against any further would-be encroachers. Their ability to put up proper fortifications in such a narrow timeframe with limited supplies is somewhat lacking, but there are improvements to be made. The windows are shuttered, then boarded, leaving only tiny slits large enough to just stick an arrow out of. The doors, save the main entrance, are barricaded and nailed shut despite their broken locks. The remainder of the caravan, save for the elderly priestess, also pitches in to help as best they can. Working together, the wagons are hitched to form an improvised wall before the main entrance, while the animals are laid down on straw carried from the stables within this barrier. Inside, the thicker wooden tables are flipped on their sides and made into a secondary wall around the inside of the door.

While this is going on, Reis and Robert have drifted aside, and are speaking quietly to to one another. The old man, in spite of finally being indoors, only seems more nervous than ever. He watches the improvised fortifications rise with a wary eye.

"Look," Reis says under his breath, "I have... reason to believe that these creatures aren't working alone. I think there are more of them out there, and if they're striking at towns within range of Kison's mounted patrols, then they're getting bolder. I don't like it at all. And... one of my daughters lived here."

__________________

Outside of the main village, Svisyrra sits down to eat a few eggs the hens had been sitting on before assuming the guise of a vulture to talk with them. The birds, however, seem rather frosty towards this unfamiliar avian. While it becomes apparent that they don't know exactly what a vulture is, they're clearly offput by the stranger's appearance. When told that the humans are gone, they go from unease to near-panic, chattering to one another incessantly about where they're to live, who's going to feed them, and what happens next time there's a fox or something worse on the prowl. Remember what happened to the old rooster?

Frosty and fearful is not a combination conducive to getting good answers, and Svisyrra to her chagrin finds her questions all but ignored by the panicky chickens. She does, however, manage to pick out of their unceasing babble that there's been a problem with locusts in the field recently, and that a wasp stung one of them near the storage barn not far from the coop.

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

That locusts were present was interesting, but overall the chickens were not really all that helpful - prior to talking to them she would have spoken to the locusts but now she would need to go human form for that and she still wanted to do one final pass of the town before settling in for the night.

Leaving the chickens to there panic she mentioned someone might check on them tomorrow but to keep the noise down if they wanted to be safe.

Finally she flew low over the town in a search patterns taking in everything from the air, her eyes were better as the bird but the main bonus was the vultures sense of smell - if there were living people here, children hidding as she had all those years ago she would be able to sniff them out so they could be helped - she has only little time for people really, but the young did need protection and unless it was a chore she would offer it to them.


Vultures have scent and low light vision, so just making a perception check to see if she can find hidden villiagers by smell.

Perception: [roll0]

[HerbertWest]

While this is going on, Reis and Robert have drifted aside, and are speaking quietly to to one another. The old man, in spite of finally being indoors, only seems more nervous than ever. He watches the improvised fortifications rise with a wary eye.

"Look," Reis says under his breath, "I have... reason to believe that these creatures aren't working alone. I think there are more of them out there, and if they're striking at towns within range of Kison's mounted patrols, then they're getting bolder. I don't like it at all. And... one of my daughters lived here."


Robert listens to Reis as he speaks, frowning to the words the other man speaks. Still, he agreed with the man's line of thinking, looking over to him with a frown of understanding.

"I am sorry for your loss, Janos. I know that these can be trying times. I recently lost my family to plague and sickness; I understand what you are going through. Let us get some rest, and ponder the motivations of the dead later."

Robert places a hand on Reis' shoulder in a comforting gesture, and attempts to gingerly steer the man towards the fortified inn, looking forward to rest after his watch.

[Bryconium]

With the inn at least partially fortified, Isabella pulls Amanaki aside and says,
"You seemed versed in the... arcane arts. I gathered some flesh from the troll, as well as some of the food from barrels and some odd gems from the trolls stomach. I wanted to investigate them, and though I understand divine magic, I imagine you know more about the arcane than I do. Will you help me?"

[tonberryking]

Lapis is quite for a time, but despite the stares her reaction (or her ears) got her, she gets to work helping fortify the place, making special sur eher mare is tended to for the evening, only looking relaxed once things have died down.

Without eavesdropping, she watches Robert speak with the caravan master and in a few moments following the end of the discussion, she is by his side once more, looking up at him evenly.

"Humor me, sir paladin: what's the next step come the morrow?:

[Henry the 57th]

As Svisyrra soars high above the village in the form of a vulture, she keeps her sense sharp for the faintest trace of its former residents.With the avian's superior sense of smell at her disposal, she receives quite a dose of the scent of decay as she passes over the broken remnants of the undead, and she does smell the scent of a small fox amidst the fields of corn, but does not see any evidence of hidden villagers. Their scents are already old and fading, with the only current aromas coming from the inn where her fellow travelers have bedded down for the night. However, when she is exploring the southernmost tip of the city, a sudden northward wind brings a faint scent of horse to her nostrils.

Meanwhile, inside the increasingly fortified inn, Janos Reis continues to talk softly to the paladin, frequently peering over his shoulder to make certain no one else is listening.

"I... thank you," he says, voice only a little shaky. "I'm going to go to bed now. I need to... think a bit."

Around them, the others are getting the finishing touches put up on their fortifications. With the improvised wagon wall bound firmly to the ground with rope and stakes, the windows boarded up, and the other doors barricaded their is little more than can immediately be done for the inn's security. The fog outside is slowly beginning to fade away, and more light from the two moons is getting through. This seems to relax the mercenaries somewhat, though they notably refrain from doing anything to extinguish their torches. Curiously, those have burning for a good few hours now to no noticeable decline.

"Alright," says one of the sellswords, a man named Giron. "There's on more thing we have to take care of before you all go nodding off, and that's who's on watch, and when. Two people at a time minimum for group this I'd say."

[Athaleon]

"I'll take the last watch," Damiel volunteered. "Who's with me?" Even as he asked, he was already rolling out his bedroll and gnawing on a strip of dried meat.

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

With night set and the village scouted every way that had easilly presented itself to her - albeith slower than had she encountered helpful insects earlier - she was about ready to roost for the night when she got the smell of horse, tiredness fought with pragmatism for a bit but in the end pragmatism won out and she flew high out of spell range to confirm a rider - a lone horse without a horseman might be worth talking to the following day, but a horseman would be better dealt with by the others.

Letting her Roc know it would be better flying high and sleeping in the air she than, considering her options own options and decided her flight was done so she went to the door of the shelter reverted to human form and knocked to get in - her nights activities hopefully done.


Stealth: [roll0] (including small size and dex bonus for vulture)

[DaOldeWolf]

With the inn at least partially fortified, Isabella pulls Amanaki aside and says,
"You seemed versed in the... arcane arts. I gathered some flesh from the troll, as well as some of the food from barrels and some odd gems from the trolls stomach. I wanted to investigate them, and though I understand divine magic, I imagine you know more about the arcane than I do. Will you help me?"

"I would love assist in the research of such objects. As a matter of fact, I was also hoping for the same. I found some flasks containing some kind of substance. I believe that if we take half and half of the flasks, we might be able to cover all the basis in the research of such objects." Amanaki suggests to Isabella.

[HerbertWest]

Lapis is quite for a time, but despite the stares her reaction (or her ears) got her, she gets to work helping fortify the place, making special sur eher mare is tended to for the evening, only looking relaxed once things have died down.

Without eavesdropping, she watches Robert speak with the caravan master and in a few moments following the end of the discussion, she is by his side once more, looking up at him evenly.

"Humor me, sir paladin: what's the next step come the morrow?:

After guiding Reis off into the fortified building, Robert turns his attention to Lapis. He looks down at her, and if he has any reaction to her appearance, it doesn't show outwardly on his face. Instead, his brow arches in surprise at her question, before his brow becomes knit with concern as he ponders a response to her question. He speaks quietly, not trying to alert the caravan travelers or "staff" to his line of thought.

"Well, it appears we have a few options, all with their own merit and flaw. Firstly, we could continue on to Kison. That would allow the rider and his minions ample time to escape, but it would not leave the caravan unguarded. Our second option would be to let the caravan travel to Kison on its own, and those who wish to stay behind can try to track down the mystery, and the culprit, behind Lerest's assault. Personally, I believe the second option to be best, but I have reservations about leaving these people to their own defenses with such formidable foes on the loose in the area."

Almost as an afterthought, the adherent of Solarion adds on, "But of course, everyone here is free to do as they please. I am not in command of anyone here."


"I'll take the last watch," Damiel volunteered. "Who's with me?" Even as he asked, he was already rolling out his bedroll and gnawing on a strip of dried meat.

As Damiel asks about the watches, Robert responds to him, turning his gaze away from their smaller companion.

"I have already volunteered to stay up for the first watch, myself. I don't believe I could sleep at the moment, as it were."

[Bryconium]

Thank you Amanaki. Those flasks also sound interesting. We should see what we can glean before we sleep."
Turning to the rest of the group, she says,
I agree that we can't let our culprit escape. It seems to me that despite his bravado he seemed at best unsure about our appearance. I'll take one of the middle watches, as I don't need a full eight hours."

[tonberryking]

Lapis rubs the bottom of her chin, pondering Robert's words.

"Unless that rider was headed for Kison." she says in a low voice only he can hear.

"I don't like the idea of heading off into the unknown wild looking for him, and not because I'm worried about my 'sterling' reputation. We have an obligation to see these folks to their destination, unless they start entertaining the notion we're going to turn on them.. and even then..."

She spends a moment thinking. "I still want to know what happened to the townsfolk. Maybe the morning will shed some light, but even the entire village up and leaving would leave a trail, and I don't think they could get very far. Do you think Reis would be willing to stay here an extra day? We could possibly search the local area for a trace of them and if we find something, we deal with it, and if not.. we move on."

[Henry the 57th]

As Svisyrra flies south, towards Kison, she holds high in the air, allowing the still-present mist to do some of the work in concealing her. Following the scent of horse, it doesn't take her long to realize that the direction it takes is roughly straight along the road. Keeping a sharp eye out and following her enhanced nose, she flies south for perhaps half an hour before she finally spots something. Far below her, trotting down the dirt road a moderate pace, are three horses bearing riders bedecked in full plate armor. At this close range she can smell the faint tinge of worn steel and fresh blood on their persons, though no scent of decay. The riders are due north, towards Lerest, in no apparent hurry.

_________________

"I'll accompany the good sir Robert on first watch," Giron says, a little bit forcefully. "My brother here," he indicates the other sellsword, "will be on the middle one. That leaves just one more on early morning watch. So who wants to get up early?" He squints, looking around a bit. "And does anyone know where the damned druid wandered off to?"

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

She considered engaging them but she was alone, suspected they were not truely hostile, not best at handling diplomacy, and most importantly tired - had they been clearly hostile she might have done differently but she was not really one for introspection.

Wheeling about she returned to the village and landed near the shelter the others were at, knocking her spear against the door to alert them to her presence - many were likely asleep by now and she intended to also be shortly.

[DaOldeWolf]

"I need to sleep at least 8 hours to fully recover my energies to cast plus one more hour of preparation." Amanaki replies knowing he needed the sleep and he wasn't the best guard. He also wanted to rest to start analyzing the new items that Isabella gave him. He then went to sleep.

[Bryconium]

Isabella prepares herself to rest, sliding her cot in a corner to have a good view of everyone in the room, especially the caravan guards. As she curls up under her coat, she holds an arrow tightly, wanting to keep a weapon close at hand should anything start up.

[tonberryking]

"I'll just take second watch, then." lapis calls out to the others, amid a pause in her conversation with Robert.

[Athaleon]

Damiel didn't wait to hear who was on last watch, as he was already stretched out on his bedroll and dozing. His sword lay by his side in its scabbard, and his head was propped up on one of his satchels as a makeshift pillow.

[Henry the 57th]

Everyone settles slowly in for the night, mentally and physically drained after a long day filled with travel and trauma. As far as deserted inns in a sacked village go, this one isn't so bad. It was clearly meant to hold at least a decent number of guests, a rarity in these times, and that means beds with actual mattresses made of straw, a firepit for cooking, and even a pair of rare wooden tubs with now-lukewarm water for cleansing oneself in. A few of the caravaneers choose to avail themselves of the latter but most, already quite weary, instead simply flop down on their bedrolls or some of the inn's own bedding and quickly fall asleep.

Outside, as Robert and Giron keep a careful watch, the fog enshrouding silent Lerest slowly but surely begins to lift as the wind arrives from the west, pushing it away. Finally, a few of the brighter stars overhead are visible in addition to the twin moons. It is hard to describe a village that has just seen its entire population apparently spirited away by the undead as peaceful, but those two on first watch could be tempted to do exactly that. Beyond the faint chirping of mating insects, the night is quiet and still, with no further monsters coming forth to do battle. For a time, the watch is ordinary, almost boring, to the point where the less disciplined or paranoid would be tempted to nod off themselves.

However, perhaps an hour into first watch, when all save Robert and Giron themselves have faded away into slumber, the peaceful night is disturbed by the clopping sound of horse hooves coming from the south, down the central road straight through the village. As the two of you hurry to get an angle to watch, the noise gets closer, and you can hear the faint sound of voices, three of them, speaking to one another in a high, melodious language that seems to soothe the ears. It doesn't take long before three horsemen are visible through the mist, each an armored humanoid riding a powerful-looking destrier.

They're a little far away, but you recognize the language the three are speaking as Celestial.

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

It was late when she arrived and she was tired from scouting and flying for a lot of the night, she broadly ignored the mercenary but looked at the paladin for a glance - "I'm tired so sleeping now, don't bother me. Information - I have scouted this area, there were around four times the amount of the undead including another troll - they came from the north - as did we, and went northeast towards the Wyrmspine Mountains with carts" she took a slight breath, "this town is empty no one is hidden away but is - very confident on that". Focusing on him more so so that he would pay attention "three armed and armoured horsemen are on the way from the south, not undead, have recently been in combat - fresh blood on them".

Walking off with barely a look back "sleeping now, don't bother me" she repeated, she found a room and slept almost immediately curled up like a hamster on the bed.

[HerbertWest]

Everyone settles slowly in for the night, mentally and physically drained after a long day filled with travel and trauma. As far as deserted inns in a sacked village go, this one isn't so bad. It was clearly meant to hold at least a decent number of guests, a rarity in these times, and that means beds with actual mattresses made of straw, a firepit for cooking, and even a pair of rare wooden tubs with now-lukewarm water for cleansing oneself in. A few of the caravaneers choose to avail themselves of the latter but most, already quite weary, instead simply flop down on their bedrolls or some of the inn's own bedding and quickly fall asleep.

Outside, as Robert and Giron keep a careful watch, the fog enshrouding silent Lerest slowly but surely begins to lift as the wind arrives from the west, pushing it away. Finally, a few of the brighter stars overhead are visible in addition to the twin moons. It is hard to describe a village that has just seen its entire population apparently spirited away by the undead as peaceful, but those two on first watch could be tempted to do exactly that. Beyond the faint chirping of mating insects, the night is quiet and still, with no further monsters coming forth to do battle. For a time, the watch is ordinary, almost boring, to the point where the less disciplined or paranoid would be tempted to nod off themselves.

However, perhaps an hour into first watch, when all save Robert and Giron themselves have faded away into slumber, the peaceful night is disturbed by the clopping sound of horse hooves coming from the south, down the central road straight through the village. As the two of you hurry to get an angle to watch, the noise gets closer, and you can hear the faint sound of voices, three of them, speaking to one another in a high, melodious language that seems to soothe the ears. It doesn't take long before three horsemen are visible through the mist, each an armored humanoid riding a powerful-looking destrier.

They're a little far away, but you recognize the language the three are speaking as Celestial.

Robert had not spoken much to his watch companion, not out of a dislike for Giron, but to concentrate on the events of the day. The paladin reflected upon the events that had transpired upon their arrival to Lerest, trying to piece together what glimpses of the common threads he could. Mostly, his thoughts went to the appearance of the undead, and the look upon Reis' face upon learning the fate of Lerest. The sorrowful events replayed in his mind over and over, before the sound of hooves broke the man from his spell. Those thoughts fled from his active consciousness, sinking down to the catacombs of his mind with the rest of the traumatic events he had witnessed in his time.

Robert stood up straighter, pushing off of the wall of the inn he had been leaning against. His left hand went to the hilt of his great sword, expecting another fight on his hands. Looking over at Giron, Robert spoke with insistence, "Go wake the others! More riders approach!" Hearing the language they conversed in piqued his curiosity further. Typically, scoundrels and devotees of wicked powers could not stand the feel of Heaven's speech upon their tongues, which alleviated his suspicions to a degree, while confusing him even further. Robert raises his right hand in the form of a hail, anxiously awaiting what would come next.

[Bryconium]

Isabella quickly springs to her feet, prepared for trouble. As she wakes up she sees Robert standing openly, seeing to be hailing something. She grabs her bow and slides into the darkness, keeping her eyes and ears open for what Robert noticed.
Stealth:[roll0] Perception:[roll1]

[Henry the 57th]

Giron nods quickly at Robert's request, slipping away with an obviously practiced soundlessness. He moves quickly from bed to bedroll and back again, starting with his brother, then the fighters proven against the undead, then Reis, then those caravaneers who might plausibly take up arms. He gives nothing in the way of explanation, simply pointing to the side where Robert and Isabella are standing with a finger held over his lips for silence.

Meanwhile, outside the three horsemen pause some distance from the fortified inn. Their voices drop slightly and there is a brief conversation in that same melodious language, and some brief harsher inflections suggesting some kind of argument. At last, one of the three draws a langsword from its scabbard and holds it high. At some muttered command it begins to shine gold and white, with all the force of a torch in the dark. The eyes of everyone looking are briefly stung, taking a moment to adjust to the sudden illumination. That horseman rides forward, alone, with the other two seeming to fade back into the darkness behind the shining blade.

The horseman halts at least a hundred feet from the inn, longsword still held high, and calls out in a steady and obviously male voice.

"I come on behalf of Kison seeking the people of Lerest and instead I find this. Who yet lives and what has become of this place? Answer at once, for many lives may yet be at stake."

Make a Knowledge (Religion) check.

Make a Knowledge (Local or Religion) check. Your choice.

[Bryconium]

[roll0] +3 if this qualifies for monster lore, which it probably doesn't.

[Henry the 57th]

You recognize the language that they're speaking in as Celestial, and recall that that tongue is frequently used as a code by paladin orders based in Kison, of which there are several. Also, you can make out a half-radiance engraved into the pommel of the man's sword, which is a popular symbol for worshipers of Solarion.

Also, you recall that the city does like to send paladins around to farming communities it trades with every so often to check up on them and keep the roads clear. It does need the food. It's not uncommon for them to be worshipers of different gods, to promote camaraderie between former mortal enemies.

[HerbertWest]

"I come on behalf of Kison seeking the people of Lerest and instead I find this. Who yet lives and what has become of this place? Answer at once, for many lives may yet be at stake."

Make a Knowledge (Religion) check.

Make a Knowledge (Local or Religion) check. Your choice.

Robert squints his eyes at the sudden brightness of the blade, taking his hand slowly off of the hilt of his great sword as the rider seems interested in parley instead of violence, at least for now. Looking up to the rider, he responds with the haste befitting the situation.

"No inhabitants of Lerest still remain. We are a group of travelers headed for Kison come the dawn, and we arrived to a dark rider and his undead host occupying the village. We destroyed his minions, but the rider escaped."


Knowledge: Religion: [roll0]

[Bryconium]

Relief floods Isabella as she recognizes the riders from Kison. She almost steps out to greet them, but refrains, remaining hidden in the shadows. Many of her fellows had died at the hands of enemies posing as friends, and she wasn't going to become another statistic. Better to let the paladin handle them for now, as they are supposedly of the same order.

[tonberryking]

Upon being roused, an unarmored Lapis kicks the Inn's door open, brandishing her two swords again. She had just gotten to sleep and was obviously expecting someone more sinister calling so late in the night. She's still on her guard, however...

"It's as the paladin said; we came upon an empty village save for undead intruders and an unknown horseman leading them. Who are you, from Kison, to arrive so illustriously?

[Henry the 57th]

The horseman listens to Robert and Lapis in silence, his face-covering helm obscuring any reactions he might be having. He continues to hold his sword aloft like a torch the entire, showing no difficulty in keeping the heavy weapon raised while encased in plate armor.

"A necromancer? Striking at Kison's very front gate? Dire news indeed." He pauses, seeming to mull. "But under the circumstances you'll forgive me if I don't just take your word for it. Come out where I can see you and tell me all that you know of what happened here. Perhaps it is not too late to mount a pursuit."

You recognize the symbol of a half-radiance engraved on this man's sword pommel, a popular symbol with the followers of Solarion.

[HerbertWest]

The horseman listens to Robert and Lapis in silence, his face-covering helm obscuring any reactions he might be having. He continues to hold his sword aloft like a torch the entire, showing no difficulty in keeping the heavy weapon raised while encased in plate armor.

"A necromancer? Striking at Kison's very front gate? Dire news indeed." He pauses, seeming to mull. "But under the circumstances you'll forgive me if I don't just take your word for it. Come out where I can see you and tell me all that you know of what happened here. Perhaps it is not too late to mount a pursuit."

You recognize the symbol of a half-radiance engraved on this man's sword pommel, a popular symbol with the followers of Solarion.

Robert approaches without reservation or delay; the nobleman almost offended by the rider's distrust of his word. The paladin stops at the right side of the rider's horse, showing that he is willing to bear an attack by the other knights to prove his own honor in this situation. He holds his hands before him in a parade rest position upon his belt; his left hand over his right, hands folded over his belt buckle. Looking up to the horseman, Robert's eyes finally adjust to the light of the man's longsword. He speaks to the man with honest purpose, his figure and visage revealed within the light of the blinding sword, in an attempt to move his suspicions from their honest group to the dark rider's host and motivations.

"I stand before you in the full light of our Lord Solarion, willing to receive both your judgment and his. May the Father of Justice guide our paths this night."


Diplomacy: [roll0]

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

She cracked an eye when someone entered to let her know the horsemen had arrived but didn't move - she needed her sleep and if a conflict broke out she would likely hear it and could act than.

[Bryconium]

Isabella will hold her position, it's the safer course of action.

[Henry the 57th]

The horseman's helmeted head tracks Robert carefully as he approaches, the shining sword in his hands never wavering an inch. When the paladin gets close, he stares directly down at him, listening intently to his words. Again, his helm makes it very difficult to tell how exactly the man is reacting, but he seems to be subtly nodding along to Robert's words. When he finishes, the horseman takes a few seconds to mull it over in silence, the only motion a few errant moths fluttering about his blade. Finally, he nods and sheathes his sword, the glow fading away even as he does.

"May He indeed, brother." The horseman sighs a little wearily. "Do you have any civilians in there? Are there any injured in need of aid? Do you believe your band can make it safely to the city yourselves? The road between here and there has just been cleared. If so, then tell me at once which way this horseman departed. A pursuit must be mounted before the trail goes cold."

[Athaleon]

Damiel woke with a start as Lapis kicked the door open, and went for his sword before he realized they weren't under attack. He listened to the proceedings with relief as he realized aid had arrived.

[DaOldeWolf]

Going to keep Amanaki sleeping. The guy would be pretty useless if he isnt capable of casting.

[HerbertWest]

"May He indeed, brother." The horseman sighs a little wearily. "Do you have any civilians in there? Are there any injured in need of aid? Do you believe your band can make it safely to the city yourselves? The road between here and there has just been cleared. If so, then tell me at once which way this horseman departed. A pursuit must be mounted before the trail goes cold."

"We do have civilians, and can make it Kison from here on our own. Not all of us have mounts, and thus could not assist in the pursuit. What can we do to aid you, other than protecting these civilians on their way on to Kison? The rider rode off between those two buildings there, and we have not seen him since."

Robert gestures between the two buildings that the rider rode off through, his eyes trying to adjust to the darkness once again now that the other paladin's sword was sheathed.

[tonberryking]

Lapis seems a bit alienated from these horsemen due to their mistrust, though not that she can completely blame them either. Mostly, she waits to see what happens next and who is going where.

[Bryconium]

At this point Isabella will step from the shadows, though she does keep her distance. As she isn't hurt she sees no reason for the paladins to approach her.

[Henry the 57th]

"My thanks, brother." The helmed rider nods. "I would not wish to leave you be but a necromancer this bold is extremely dangerous. We must put him down before he can proceed with whatever he plans to do from here. Perhaps some of the poor people who lived here can still be saved, or at least buried with honor."

With that, he tugs hard on the reins of his destrier, and the powerful horse makes a surprisingly swift about-face before making very swift progress back the way it came. The horseman shouts briefly at his fellows in their special tongue, and the three of them all but immediately peel off down the same alleyway that the dark horsemen fled down mere hours ago. You can hear the heavy hoofbeats of their horses hitting full full gallop as they ride off boldly into the night.

Even as the sound of thundering hooves fades away and the night begins to grow quiet once again, Giron steps out from where he had been waiting, sword in hand as usual.

"What was that all about? They just ran after him with no planning, and no backup?" he sounds almost incredulous.

[Athaleon]

"Maybe they didn't want to drag us into danger," Damiel ventured, still groggy from sleep. "Maybe they're zealots. Or maybe they're not telling us everything, but if you suspect that, what are we going to do? Follow them?"

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

Her dreams were on hunting in the form of a chicken hunting foxes, occassionally shifting through prespectives of different highly confused foxes.

[Bryconium]

"Men like them believe that they are heroes, whether they realize it or not. Perhaps they are right and they can capture this mysterious necromancer."

[tonberryking]

"Either they're glory hounds like you said, or they were looking for this mysterious rider in the first place." Lapis rolls her eyes, finding the whole thing to be a big show of bravado.

"I am a little worried that they did not ask more questions about the lack of townspeople here, too. At this point there are too many unknowns, but at least these brave men-- this is said with a dash of sarcasm, "Are galloping after the mysterious rider. I say we investigate all we can of the town in the morning, and then head back to Kison with the caravan before involving ourselves further."

[DaOldeWolf]

Amanaki kept sleeping unaware of what had occurred. He was used to sleeping in uncanny conditions especially as a child.

[Henry the 57th]

As the sound of hoofbeats fades into the night, silence creeps back into emptied Lerest. The wind slowly begins to pick up, sweeping away the last of the gloomy mists within minutes, revealing the beautiful tapestry of stars at last. Silvery moonlight shines down on the down, gently illuminating the fields and homes around the huddled travelers. The sound of crickets chirping begins to pick up again, and a few bold fireflies flicker in the street. The night around you seems so peaceful, so calm, that it's almost hard to believe that mere hours before a battle was fought and entire village seized by the living dead.

It soon becomes clear that no further visitors will be immediately showing themselves, and one by one those not on watch drift back into slumber. The remainder of the night passes peacefully, watches handed off on time with no sign of any activity beyond the simple creatures of the wild. Those on watch keep a wary eye out for the return of the dead or the horsemen, but nothing more creeps in from the night. Eventually, the stars begin to give way as a faint orange tint makes its way over the horizon. The bright twin moons are the last to hide themselves from the shining sun, but eventually they too give way to the source of light and life.

One by one, the small caravan stirs itself from slumber to look out on a new day. And pray that it will go better than the last.

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

Waking up after her solid eight hours she proceeded to move out of town and take a seat on the ground listening to the air and feeling nature all around her focusing for an hour as she recharged her energies before returning to the others in a fairly decent mood.

"So all, don't know if" she paused trying to remember the name "Robert? mentioned my findings last night, but the gist of it is the undead numbered around four times the numbers we met including another troll and they went northeast towards the Wyrmspine Mountains with carts, not along the road - however the approached from the same direction as ourselves. Also there are no survivors in this town beyond some chickens and perhaps locusts etc", noting that there were no riders present "and I assume those riders from the south have been and went?" she queried.

[DaOldeWolf]

Amanaki wakes up feeling refreshed after a good night of rest. As soon as he woke up, he started to study his spellbook. He decided the spells he would have access for the rest of the day. He considered the situation from yesterday into account when making his decision. It was important to be ready in case they had to face more undead.


0:Prestidigitation, Light, Ghost Sound, Detect Magic, Mending, Read Magic
1:Expeditious retreat, Grease, Magic Missile, Heightened Awareness
2: Invisibility, Protection from evil (Communal)

I have also made the changes to my character sheet to reflect the spell selection.


"Good morning to everybody. What is this thing about riders?" Amanaki asks with curiosity.

[Athaleon]

Damiel filled in Amanaki on the knights' slightly odd visit. He continued, "I, for one, plan to investigate this once we have seen our charges safely to Kison—provided I'm not going alone. Who's with me?"


Level 0: Detect Magic, Read Magic, Brand, Dancing Lights
Level 1: Chill Touch, 2x Frostbite, Enlarge Person, Grease
Level 2: Mirror Image, Glitterdust, Invisibility

[Bryconium]

I imagine the Church of Cebaal will want to investigate this mysterious rider and bring him to justice. Such destruction cannot be allowed to, and the rider cannot be allowed to act with impunity. Provided my superiors approve this course of action, I too intend to chase this necromancer."

[HerbertWest]

"I am sure that we can check in with the knights' order in Kison as well, so that we can ensure we are not simply going over ground and territory already scoured."

Robert has awoken with the dawn, spending time in meditation and prayer to Solarion, donning his platemail, and finally, eating one of the trail rations in his pack for a conservative, if not nutritious breakfast. Other than his remarks on the follow up in Kison, the crusader was mostly quiet, seeming deep in thought as he helped the others in the caravan pack up to prepare for the road.

[Henry the 57th]

Rather more quickly than the caravan set up for the night, it breaks down and prepares to depart. After what happened last night, everyone is in agreement that they must Kison as swiftly as possible, before anything else decides to come here. The small wagon train departs the ghost town not long after sunrise, leaving Lerest's shell to be picked over by whatever scavengers decide to show themselves first. Leaving the village in haste, the group resumes its journey across the Sea of Grass. In the early morning sunlight small drops of dew twinkle like diamonds amidst the green. The sky overhead is clear and blue, without a trace of cloud to be seen anywhere. It would be easy to mistake this for an almost normal day were it not for the constant ugly patches of wilted brown plants amongst the green and the total, unnatural quiet that pervades the land around the caravan.

The journey from Lerest to Kison is fretful, with all keeping a constant and wary eye for some undead creature to spring from the earth or worse. But, ultimately, it proves to be uneventful. Several miles down the road there are the corpses of seven black and purple canine beasts piled crudely along the side of the road, lacerated or pulped with great force, but they do not rise to bar the way. After a hasty stop to set them on fire just in case, the wagon train presses onwards at good speed. The journey of three hours is reduced to two and half by pressing the animals a little harder than is necessarily healthy.

At last, though, the city walls come into view. Kison, once little more than outpost on the borders of the Whispering Woods, has grown into one of the last great cities in the world. On its outskirts are dozens of farmsteads and fields of wildly varying sizes, interspersed with haphazard dirt roads cutting this way and that. Fields of wheat, corn, potatoes, and even a few meager orchards greet the caravan as it passes by, farmers already toiling to prepare their crops. Soldiers decked in leather and chainmail run patrols up and down the winding paths, keeping a watchful eye for any trouble from the north. Twice the wagons are stopped, briefly inspected for cargo, and Reis is questioned. He seems to be familiar with the proceedings, though, and the group is let go without too much delay.

It isn't until the city's main stone walls are looming high above you all that the defenses are seen in more abundance. A long curving trench, dug deep into the earth and filled with sharp stakes, separates the farmsteads from a patch of bare grass before the walls. Just within range of a longbow shot from the city's stone wall, the trench has precious few bridges, all of which are covered by barricades. The one your road takes you to sports a wooden wall eight feet high, manned by at least half a dozen soldiers. An armored man with a pendant symbol of Cebaal dangling from his neck steps out from the narrow gap to greet you.

"State your names and your business," he says gruffly, touching his amulet once with two fingers.

If you feel like lying, make a Will save now.

As an Inquisitor from Kison, you know that the study and practice of arcane magic is banned within the city walls. Known arcane casters may not set foot inside the city - unless they are sponsored by a divine caster. Under the theory that arcane magic gives too much power to corruptible men but divine magic is at the will of the gods, Kison does allow provable servants of the gods to assume total responsibility for the actions of a single caster whose character they will attest to. Of course, the magic itself is still illegal and consequences can and will be enacted on the sponsor if they are judged complicit in any such activities. Normal sentences include hard labor, exile, or death. The city can't afford to keep prisoners lying about doing nothing.

Also, it's standard procedure for clerics assigned this job to use amulets with permanent Zone of Truth enchantments.

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

Answering Amanaki's question "three riders were traveling from the south road last night, had recently seen combat - I suspect they arrived in the night and left again" as the others prepared she collected the chickens the chickens soothing them about the journey - at the least they could provide food from eggs or themselves if things went poorly, and leaving them abandoned seemed cruel, and gave a quick glance at the most important buildings for valuables and than joined the caravan as it left her Roc flying high above them.

She mostly relaxed on the journey noting the dead canines with some interest - likely what the armoured riders had fought, but they were not something to worry about now, and she was somewhat fascinated by the city - she had rarely visited significant settlements so this was new, the stops and searchs were odd to her view as a serious smuggler would likley bypass the roads but than many could not she supposed.

When one of the checkpoints finally required her to speak she was a bit surprised by it, and moreso by what felt like magical complusion - but she didn't try to test it, "Svisyrra employeed by caravan master Reis to assist him in a safe journey" considering for a moment "accompanied by my companion Roc" she gestured above where the bird was little more than a silhouette against the sky.

[Bryconium]

Isabella steps forward, grateful to be back in Kison. She lets the divine power wash over her, seemingly relishing in it as she accepts its hold over her mind willingly.
Greetings, I am Isabella de Santos, a returning inquisitor of Cebaal." She gestures to the holy symbol around her neck, I have been ordered to return to Kison so I traveled with this caravan. However, we encountered a strange rider wielding powerful magic, accompanied by powerful undead the likes of which I have never before seen. I would report to my commanders immediately." Isabella pauses, gives Amanaki a look and continues, "Though this man is an arcane spellcaster, I am willing to vouch for his conduct within the walls. He will be accompanied by an inquisitor of Cebaal."

Perception check to see if I recognize him:[roll0]
Don't know if perception is the right skill, but I'll just go for it anyway.

[DaOldeWolf]

Amanaki is quite surprised about being revealed as an arcane caster. He had already given it a though. If things turned south, he knew he could at least escape in part of his spell preparation. HE decided to remain silent and wait for the answer to his situation. There wasn't much he could do about the situation now that he had been revealed. He just hoped that Isabella´s word would be enough to let him pass.

[Athaleon]

"Damiel Garland. I also guarded the caravan, and encountered the rider Isabella spoke of. I mean to assist my companions in their investigation once their business in the city is concluded."

[Henry the 57th]

The middle-aged man just seems to be rather bored with most of the group, but he does raise an eyebrow when Isabella steps forward. He allows her to speak uninterrupted, fingering his amulet somewhat as she declares sponsorship over an arcane caster. He nods along in a markedly more polite manner.

"Bringing one of them here?" Distaste is evident in his tone. "I can't say I expected it but the law is the law, as our Lord teaches." His pendant, a silver-wrought armored fist wreathed in flame, gleams briefly. "If you'll have him then you'll both just have to sign the contracts and he'll be allowed in. As to the rest, an Inquistor's judgement isn't without merit. If you think they can be trusted then there shouldn't be too many problems."

One by one, the other members of the caravan add their names and business to the roster. Reis and his sons came here as caravaneers, Giron and his brother as hired guards who might seek further employment in the city, the farmers came to sell their crops, and old priestess is here just to to confer with other members of Yvaine's faith on a replacement cleric for her village. None of this appears to cause the cleric any sort of undue alarm, and in due time after some bookkeeping is performed, he allows the wagon to pass on through.

Between the stake-filled trench and the wall is little more than flat, empty ground bereft of any kind of concealment or cover, perfectly suited to being peppered with arrows from the forty-foot curtain wall at a moment's notice. A small number of men longbows keep a wary eye on the group's approach, but do little more. The gate itself is double door of thick oak reinforced with steel bands, kept tightly shut. Standing before it in silent vigil are four men bedecked in full plate armor and face-shielding helms, two bearing the rising sun of Solarion and two the fiery fist of Cebaal. As the small group approaches, one of the gates ponderously creaks open as two massive wooden humanoid constructs push at it from the inside. All six stand aside to let the wagons pass through, and simply regard them with stoicism as they make their way inside, the gates pulled shut again almost immediately.

If the exterior of Kison was quiet, almost rural, the interior is the complete opposite. Houses and buildings are pressed up against one another like grapes in a wine crusher, with only a modicum of space allowed around the curtain walls. Hundreds of people can be seen hurrying this way and that, talking and yelling and leading animals and carrying burdens down cramped streets. The noise of it all hits you almost immediately, the smell soon thereafter. The aroma of several thousand people and animals packed into a space built for half that number with limited bathing facilities is less than pleasant.

Still, almost as soon as the gates slam shut behind you, Reis seems to almost collapse backwards onto his wagon, breathing heavily and touching his face as if shocked to still be alive.

"Thank all the gods we made it," he breathes, looking down at one slightly trembling hand. "And..." he looks up "Thank you all. We're here. We actually made it."

The chickens prove willing enough to hitch a ride with you on a wagon, though your Roc scares them. It doesn't help that the big bird looks at the plump little ones hungrily from time to time.

Those canids aren't natural. At all. They bear some anatomical resemblance to hyenas, but they way their spines are hunched and muscles overgrown, they should barely be able to run. Also, their teeth are too big to allow their mouths to fully close. Then again, maybe that's why they lost when it was seven on three.

You don't know this gentleman personally, but you do recognize him from the temple as Cyrus Thester, an older cleric of Cebaal with a reputation for stolid reliability and stuffy up-tightness. He's past his adventuring days and spends most of his time in the temple performing healing or doing bureaucratic work. As this job is tedious in the extreme and lacks prestige, it's usually foisted on those who need a lesson in humility or who messed up in some minor fashion. Probably tripped over his robes and knocked over a candlestick during prayers or somesuch.

He's also easily old enough to remember the day when the former chief wizard of Kison burned down a quarter of the city and blew a giant hole in the wall to make his escape.

[Athaleon]

"You're quite welcome." Damiel sighed for different reasons, a mix of relief and exasperation. It was a damn good thing he wasn't the first to open his mouth, or Isabella might have had to cover for two arcane spellcasters to enter the city, and Damiel wasn't sure how far her authority went. He was irked that Kison was not the tolerant, cosmopolitan place he had imagined it to be—not that he had never considered the possibility. Arrival at this city was as far as his plans went, and he thought he could settle down a bit here, now he knew he would have to leave before he was found out, and made to depart.

[Bryconium]

"Of course, it is my duty to protect the people from the terrors that stalk this land. Now, let us finish what business we have left, I must report to my superiors immediately."

[tonberryking]

Lapis goes through the procedurals without complaint, explaining her position as a caravan guard, and doesn't speak up too much until Rison pledges his thanks.

"You are welcome; it was... a bit too exciting perhaps, but the important thing is we're safe." she says with a bare earnestness, before contemplating her next moves. Aloud, as it turns out.

"We should find an inn or tavern to not only stable our mounts, but to congregate on the matters we've encountered," she starts, mostly aimed towards Robert, but to anyone among the guardians who'll listen, "While I'm reticent to go after both the dark and heroic riders, we should decide what we're going to do about them anyway."

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

She took in the odd scene where the archer claimed responsibility for the mage without comment, 'civilised' customs seemed odd to her.

She glanced at Reis as he spoke - "you had doubts we would?" she was a bit preplexed by this as while the encounter with the dead was odd it had not truely been dangerous to any of them - her memory was that only herself was injured. Yes she believed the rider was more dangerous than they had seen but he had not engaged.

Noting the rabbit lady speaking she listened before responding, "I think that depends on of we have to do anything, or even stay associated - I see little benefit in chasing the dead", looking back to Reis "as I mentioned when we met I am interested in what life in a city looks like - can you advise on potential work or areas I should explore here?" looking to the archer Isabella "hmm ... I have no immediate plans and engaged the dead and there leader before you, and scouted the town for how they operated on there assault - if you think it would be beneficial for me to accompany you and rely my version of events to your superiors in the town I can make the time for that", the woman had missed the horse when she asked her to shoot it - but the attempt was respected so she made the offer.

[DaOldeWolf]

Amanaki decided to follow through and sign the documents given. He wasn't going to try to create issues. He was already used to bad and suspicious treatment from those who didn't trust people of wielding magic. He still preferred not to say anything. The least attention he could get, the less likely it would turn for them to have any reason to confront him.

[Athaleon]

"Let us arrange an inn, then we can each make our various errands and meet back there tonight, for a drink if nothing else," Damiel offered. "Though I did mean what I said at the gate back there, I hope you won't be offended if I do not accompany you to your church," he added in a low voice.

[Bryconium]

"An inn should serve as a meeting place, let's hurry."

[Henry the 57th]

"Did I have doubts?" Reis repeats. "More than I'd care to talk about." He settles back to his wagon, resting himself against the crude wooden bench like a man who's just been granted a second chance at life. But it doesn't take too long for the man to recover, as his son reminds him that they still have to see the others to their own destinations in the city. Reis thanks you, quite earnestly, for your services and says he can't pay you right now, but seek him out after a few days and he'll be more than happen to compensate you once his crops are sold and his guests delivered.

In a city as large as Kison, there are more than few places for weary travelers to rest their heads. With a local as yoiu guide, it doesn't take too long to locate an inn a few streets in, with only a minimum of squeezing through crowds and overly narrow streets. Ignoring a few shady-looking vendors sulking about not far from the inn's door, you six enter to find a somewhat small but well-maintained inn with a few people cooking some stew over a fire. All are human, save for a single rather ragged-looking elf with a portion of his right ear nicked off. Beyond him, there are three men in farmer's clothing, a woman in well-worn leather, and in the back a well-muscled fellow with a long dagger prominently displayed on his hip.

The innkeeper is older, somewhat chubby human with an affable smile and deep grandfatherly voice. He offers to rent you two rooms with two beds apiece for a mere 4 gold pieces per night.

If you something in mind your character would like to do, you can tell me in the OOC thread. Isabella knows this town, after all. She would likely have most information you would need.

[HerbertWest]

Robert had remained strangely silent through their entry into Kison, apparently still deep in his thoughts from the morning. However, once they arrive at the inn, he looks to his companions, announcing his plans to them.

"I would like to check with the paladin order here in Kison, to see if they have gotten word from the riders that approached us in Lerest. I anyone else interested in coming with me? I may also see about purchasing a horse, now that we have arrived, in case we need to pursue the dark rider once more."

[Bryconium]

Isabella pays the innkeeper his fee, and tells him to save her a bowl of stew for when she returns as she passes him a few more coins.
"Very well. While you check with the paladin order, I shall report to the church of Cebaal. Perhaps they can offer us some aid. I'll be back soon. If anyone wishes to accompany me, I'm leaving now."

[tonberryking]

"I'll go with you, Robert. Who's God did those men, serve, anyhow? We may find information speaking with the church as well..

[Athaleon]

"I suppose I'll lie low and hold things down at the inn, then. Maybe I'll mingle in the common room and catch the latest gossip," Damiel offered.

[DaOldeWolf]

"I will go to the library. I might find out a bit more about our objects acquired from the battlefield. I also need to check the gems we obtained. A silent space might assist in finding more about them." Amanaki replies.

[Athaleon]

"Now that you mention it, I can be of assistance at the library, probably a lot more so than idling here. As long as they don't have too much, erm, scrutiny of the types they, ah, turn away at the gate."

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

"Before I go wandering anywhere can someone give me a run down of any laws that this city has that I might run afoul of - I gather that there is some issue with those who use arcane magic, but are there any other oddities?" she queried.

[Henry the 57th]

The innkeeper takes the gold, and shows you to your rooms with little fuss. They are relatively unadorned little little spaces that might occasionally be mistaken for a pair of large boxes, but they do have beds with straw on them and blankets, plus you unlikely to hit your heads on the ceiling. In any case they're rooms to bunker down in for a night or two, and you are soon after left alone with an invitation to use the fire in the hearth whenever you please.

You know that there are actually three separate orders of paladins here. One each for Yvaine, Solarion, and Cebaal. The former are the city's traditional religious protectors, whereas the latter two effectively moved in during the decades following the failed Kingsmoot. To keep an eye on the newcomers their headquarters are actually located just down the street from Yvaine's temple, which is the largest in the city. This makes for a constant low-level Mexican standoff between the three religions, and especially between the Good gods and Cebaal. But so far there has only been the occasional brawl or duel of honor. Not to the death, of course.

The best library open to the public here would be the Eacer Public Works, named for its founder, a wizard who passed away some years before the ban on aracane magic was put into place. Some of the works have been removed in the years since, of course, but a lot of more academic knowledge on arcane magic is still available. You just won't find any books teaching you how to actually perform it. Though you can expect at least one plainclothes Inquisitor in the vicinity at all times.

The Temple of Cebaal maintains it own archives, naturally, and has quite a bit of necromantic lore taken from those unfortunate enough to fall into its tender care. But it isn't typically open to nonbelievers.

[HerbertWest]

"I'll go with you, Robert. Who's God did those men, serve, anyhow? We may find information speaking with the church as well..

At Lapis' question, Robert thinks for a moment, before responding to her.

"I believe at least one of them served Solarion, the rider that I spoke with and gave the directions to. As for the others, I did not happen to see their holy symbols or tabards, so I cannot say who's colors they ride under, other than Kison's."


Svisyrra

"Before I go wandering anywhere can someone give me a run down of any laws that this city has that I might run afoul of - I gather that there is some issue with those who use arcane magic, but are there any other oddities?" she queried.

The man begins to walk out of the inn's common room, before he hears Svisyrra's question. He pauses, turning around to approach the druidess and the rest of the group.

"That is an excellent question...I haven't been here since I was a boy. Would you please help us avoid running afoul of the local law, Isabella?"

[Bryconium]

"A very basic set of rules for Kison would be to not cast spells of any kind. In addition, you should avoid confrontation, It is always best to walk away from trouble here. The three main churches of Kison are clustered together, I'll show you where they are. Amanaki, the main library would be the Eacer Public Works. It should still have some books on arcane magic, even if they removed the books on actual usage and application."

Knowledge Local to remember any important laws or advice I might have forgotten: [roll0]

[Athaleon]

"I'll come along to the Public Works, then," Damiel sighed. "Can you talk your way past them if they start asking questions about why we're looking up books on arcane magic?"

[HerbertWest]

"A very basic set of rules for Kison would be to not cast spells of any kind. In addition, you should avoid confrontation, It is always best to walk away from trouble here. The three main churches of Kison are clustered together, I'll show you where they are. Amanaki, the main library would be the Eacer Public Works. It should still have some books on arcane magic, even if they removed the books on actual usage and application."

Knowledge Local to remember any important laws or advice I might have forgotten: [roll0]

Robert nods, giving the Inquisitor of Cebaal a grateful smile. While he had no plans to cause disruption and disorder in the city, he found it curious that Isabella would specifically mention walking away from trouble, as if trouble would end up finding him.

"Thank you. I will do my best to steer clear of any conflict here in the city."

Looking down to Lapis, the large man gestures towards the door of the inn. He is not impatient in his gesture, only inquiring as to whether or not his companion is ready to venture out into the city's network of streets and on to the Paladin Order.

[Bryconium]

"I don't believe you should have any trouble looking at the academic books. If you do have any trouble, leave immediately and wait for me."

[DaOldeWolf]

"A very basic set of rules for Kison would be to not cast spells of any kind. In addition, you should avoid confrontation, It is always best to walk away from trouble here. The three main churches of Kison are clustered together, I'll show you where they are. Amanaki, the main library would be the Eacer Public Works. It should still have some books on arcane magic, even if they removed the books on actual usage and application."

Knowledge Local to remember any important laws or advice I might have forgotten: [roll0]

"Thanks very deeply for sharing this information. Could you tell me the direction to the library? The sooner I get there, the faster Heimprich and I can begin the research?" Amanaki asks as he makes a small vow. Heimprich is still anxiously waiting for some food and for Amanaki to fulfill his promise.

[tonberryking]

"Lead the way. Apologies in advance if my appearance causes any trouble, but I doubt it will be the worst thing someone sees in a given day." With a whirl of her cloak, Lapis walks out at Robert's side, not leading (since she doesn't exactly know the way) but determined to appear his equal.

[Henry the 57th]

Isabella, being a native, has little difficultly in locating the major landmarks. The streets are crowded and noisy, with far too many people crammed into space built with far fewer in mind. Merchants hawk their wares from street-side carts and stalls, yelling themselves hoarse to be heard over the crowd. Even a group such as yours is pushed and bumped once in a while as one person after the other jostles for position amongst the confusing, claustrophobic web of streets packed buildings. Everywhere you look is a seething mass of humanity rolling this way and that, a confused mess almost enough to make you forget how few such places are left. A scant handful of children can be seen, never far from their parent's side. Here and there draft animals shove their way through the mass, drawing their burdens behind them on the way to this market or that.

Still, you are obviously not people to be trifled with by any means, and the trip is for the most part smooth. The first stop is by the Public Works, an odd-looking two story building with a domed roof capped by a point of gold rising from its center. Inside, Amanaki and Damiel find a single enormous room covering the whole first floor, row after row of bookshelves containing tens of thousands of books stretching out in every direction. There are dozens of people inside, prowling the shelves or hunched over crude wooden tables pouring over some tome or the other. Beside the door is a bored-looking middle-aged man in armor, and not far to the right is a counter with two women sitting behind it, going over something neither of you can see from here.

Meanwhile, Isabella could just about find the so-called "Divine Alley" from anywhere in the city, blindfolded. The name is something of a misnomer - it's really the widest street in the city, and located quite centrally. Traffic here is lighter, undoubtedly due to the continued presence of holy men in thick armor standing guard. The Alley forms a T-intersection, with the towering green and silver temple of Yvaine located at the peak of it. Meanwhile, the temples to Solarion and Cebaal are located further down towards the base of the T, literally parked directly across the street from one another. Completely unprecedented in earlier times, and the tension can be seen in the fully-armored warrior poised stoically straight on both sides, seemingly determined to stare each other into oblivion.

The paladins guarding Cebaal's temple are well-versed enough to let her in on sight, their hands not even twitching in response as she passes inside. There is little ceremony as the doors open and shut behind her, sealing her into a familiar windowless, spartan antechamber lit by flickering red flames. A single man in fire-blackened steel plate stands before the other door. Isabella recognizes him for Alejandro Carlos, a middle-aged paladin now serving as a taciturn temple guard.

"Ah, mistress De Santos," he says. "You've returned to us. I take it your information-gathering went well?"

Meanwhile, one of the men outside Solarion's temple bars the way for Robert and Lapis, plate armor gleaming brightly in the midday sun. He does not touch the longsword still sheathed at his side.

"I don't recognize you," he says, armored head turning slowly from one to the other. "Who are you and what business do you have here?"

Publicly slandering the gods is forbidden, due to the rather delicate religious fault-lines in the community. Punishment ranges from fines to labor to exile, depending on the nature and severity of the offense. Other than that, it's not too complicated - no stealing, murdering, trespassing, fraud, or general criminal behavior. Punishment is, however, almost exclusively dealt out by religious enforcers like yourself. Depending on who caught you doing what sentences may be... unpleasant.

There is a Lord Mayor, but these days he mostly deals with matters of trade, military, and keeping tensions from festering too badly. Not much time for internal policing.

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

She wasn't sure what to do with herself so she tagged along with Isabella, occassionally marveling at the crowd and assessing stratagies for dealing with it - a single thorny entanglement spell her would likely decimate the place, so either the city was naive, had hidden protections, or more likely had to tolerate the risk of dangerous magic users and beings.

"Isabella ... it would seem that the death toll would be significant from even a low powered attack, that armoured rider was not low powered and if he could make use of the dead quickly" it wasn't fear that guided her thoughts many druids had cleansed settlements of creatures that didn't respect nature, but just she couldn't quite understand how people banded together to make themselves so vulnerable and tempting a target.

She remained quite when they arrived at there destination.

[tonberryking]

"Lapis Almasy, daughter of Sir Vermilion Almasy and sell-sword. This man before you is your fellow Paladin Robert Blackwood," her hand clutches at her own heart and then waves towards Robert's. The bunny-lady seems to have practice announcing heraldry at some point. That, or she's exceptionally bold. "We seek an audience with your superiors; last night after an incursion with malignant forces, three men, at least one of whom was under your banner came upon the caravan we were guarding, and we seek clarity on the incidents that are yet transpiring following their departure.

She doesn't blink and looks the guard right in the eye as she says it all, ending with a curt nod.


TFW you only have a flat ability mod for a roll: [roll0] Diplomacy

EDIT: Whoops. Forgot the +1; that should be, wow. 19 She DID know what she was doing...

[HerbertWest]

At Lapis' introduction of the two of them, the paladin goes rigid with surprise. Try as he might, he could not help but look down upon the woman that had accompanied him to the Temple of Solarion. His mind was racing, trying to recount where he could have possibly revealed who he was to the caravan. He was positive that during the trip, he had only given his first name to his companions, though, then again, he had introduced himself so many times, to so many different people over the years in the same way, that he could not remember whether or not he had slipped. Or perhaps Lapis had some knowledge of heraldry or nobility, and had pieced together who he was based on the Blackwood crest on his shield, or the construction of his ancestral greatsword? In the grand scheme of things, his homeland and his lordship of it was inconsequential to this part of the world, and with the fate of his people...he doubted it meant anything at all. Regardless, Robert finally peels his gaze away from his companion and to the man that had addressed them, forcing a smile to his face.

"Indeed, Lady Almasy speaks truthfully. We have come to share the knowledge of the altercation in Lerest, speak with you and your order regarding what your men found, and, for my part at least, offer any assistance that I can to track down this malevolent rider."


Robert is rolling Diplomacy in an attempt to appear normal, despite his reaction to Lapis' introduction of his true name.
Diplomacy:[roll0]

[DaOldeWolf]

Still, you are obviously not people to be trifled with by any means, and the trip is for the most part smooth. The first stop is by the Public Works, an odd-looking two story building with a domed roof capped by a point of gold rising from its center. Inside, Amanaki and Damiel find a single enormous room covering the whole first floor, row after row of bookshelves containing tens of thousands of books stretching out in every direction. There are dozens of people inside, prowling the shelves or hunched over crude wooden tables pouring over some tome or the other. Beside the door is a bored-looking middle-aged man in armor, and not far to the right is a counter with two women sitting behind it, going over something neither of you can see from here.


Amanaki decides to start by asking by approaching the man in armor guessing that in his bored state meant that he would enjoy having something to do. "Sir, we are looking for some books, could you assist us on the matter?" Amanaki asks.

[Bryconium]

"Worry not for Kison, a city is more than it's people. Kison carries the legacy of all who have come before, and will not succumb easily."

As Isabella strides towards the temple, her steps become slightly longer and more confident at her subconscious excitement to return home. Ignoring the guards, she stalks through the doors, walking up to Alejandro and giving him a curt nod.

"Greetings Carlos, I am pleased to say my mission went well. However, my companion and I must speak with the high priest immediately, we bring urgent information that they must be made aware of."

I'm assuming this man isn't my superior, if he is then Isabella addresses him appropriately.

[Henry the 57th]

Before the shining temple to the sun god, the armored paladin takes careful note of every word Lapis speaks, head turning briefly to Robert when she reveals him for a paladin. His plate helmet completely conceals any reactions he may be having, no doubt as intended. He similafrly listens attentively to Robert without breathing a word in turn. When Robert finishes, the paladin stands in silence for a moment before speaking.

"Come inside," he beckons, quickly ushering the two of you into a side entrance. You can feel the watchful eyes of Cebaal's warriors on you with every step you take, until the inside of Solarion's temple shields you from their gaze.

You find yourselves inside a long, darkened hallway lit by a lone pair of shimmering golden torches positioned midway through. You can see it branches off in several directions further along the path, and several doors marked out as prayer cells line the edges of the wall.

"Now that we're out of their earshot," there is a little venom in his tone "tell me everything."

__________________________

Isabella, Svisyrra in tow, is looked over once by Carlos, who raises an eyebrow at the forward request. But he still listens patiently to what Isabella has to say.

"High Priest Alejo," he begins once she is finished, "is quite a busy man today. What is it that requires his immediate and undivided attention? And..." he looks over at the druid, "who is this guest you've brought in? Not in chains, for once."

__________________________

In the Public Works, the armored man just looks at Amanaki like he is some kind of simpleton.

"I'm a door guard, son. I make sure that no one's just running off with these books. Can't very well leave my post just 'cause somebody needs to find something. You want someone who knows this place like the back of her hand, talk to Alicia over there," he points to one of the women seated behind a desk. "Been here for years. She might help ya, if'n you're polite about it."

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

She wasn't sure if she understood the other woman's comment, was it the equivalant of 'the forest is more than the life in it' or somesuch, surely the city was the people within it - otherwise the abandoned village would not have been an issue, butr city folk could be odd about stuff.

Still where Isabella was getting more confident she was getting more out of sorts about all the people and walls and so began to mentally distract herself by checking her surroundings for how they had been used.

Looking at the Carlos man looking at her she tilted her head to the side somewhat distracted by scuffs on the floor, "Svisyrra, one of the druids, we fought the dead together" she didn't feel he needed any more explanation than this.


Survival: taking 10, for 24.
-Used to get an understanding of the amount of people that have used the hallway, when it was cleaned, how the groups moved through etc.

Knowledge Nature: taking 10, for 22.
-Used to know what types of people have been here from there tracks.

[Athaleon]

Damiel was content to follow and stay silent. There was no point in pushing his luck, even with a bored door guard.

[DaOldeWolf]

He pays attention to the guard and when he finishes speaking, he responds back politely. "Thank you sir for the information and excuse us for bothering you in the middle of your job."

Amanaki then goes to the counter to speak to the two women. "Sorry for interrupting you ladies in the middle of conversation. We are looking for some books and we were told to ask for Alicia for assistance. Could you please assist us?" He vows down as he finishes speaking.


In case, it might be necessary.
[roll0]

[Bryconium]

As Carlos questions her Isabella steps forward and fixes him with an intense stare, "There was an attack on the village of Lerest, as the druid says. However, the details of what I bring for the High Priest are precious, proprietary information. To speak of it so casually, out in the open like this, would be a mistake. This woman I bring with me was with me at Lerest, I bring her to merely confirm and enhance my report."

Intimidation check!: [roll0]

[HerbertWest]

Before the shining temple to the sun god, the armored paladin takes careful note of every word Lapis speaks, head turning briefly to Robert when she reveals him for a paladin. His plate helmet completely conceals any reactions he may be having, no doubt as intended. He similafrly listens attentively to Robert without breathing a word in turn. When Robert finishes, the paladin stands in silence for a moment before speaking.

"Come inside," he beckons, quickly ushering the two of you into a side entrance. You can feel the watchful eyes of Cebaal's warriors on you with every step you take, until the inside of Solarion's temple shields you from their gaze.

You find yourselves inside a long, darkened hallway lit by a lone pair of shimmering golden torches positioned midway through. You can see it branches off in several directions further along the path, and several doors marked out as prayer cells line the edges of the wall.

"Now that we're out of their earshot," there is a little venom in his tone "tell me everything."


As Lapis and Robert enter the Temple of Solarion, the paladin takes a long moment to take in the interior of the temple. The last time he had been in Kison, it had been with his father when he was a boy, almost twenty years ago now. His reminiscence is cut short, however, by the more pressing matter at hand. Looking back to the barely visible eyes of the door guard that had allowed them passage to the temple, Robert begins his narrative of their encounter in Lerest.

"My other companions and I came to be traveling together in a caravan, led by Master Janos Reis. Originally, our destination was Lerest, though the journey took quite some time. We made our way through the Grass Sea of the Ki, and nightfall began to fall. We made plans to take lodgings in the village of Lerest, as Janos was familiar with the townsfolk there. Some of our traveling companions noticed a bird flying in a strange pattern overhead, which was the first omen that set our suspicions.

After determining the bird to be of no consequence, six of us broke off from the caravan to scout the state of Lerest. It was there that we found the rider and an undead horde. Under their command they had an undead troll, and a few human abominations. We were able to destroy the unholy creatures, though without mounts of our own ridden into the altercation, the rider was able to quit the field, rather than be captured. All in all, judging from their spellcasting capabilities, and their skill with a sword when some summoned creatures were sent to harry them, they are well practiced.

He takes a few moments of silence, allowing the man to take in the information Robert had provided, before continuing on to the next part of their evening in Lerest.

"After routing the rider, we retrieved the caravan and the other passengers, and went about fortifying the town's inn for the evening. An inspection of the settlement revealed little information to help piece together what had happened. There were no villagers left when we arrived. and it was apparent from blood in some of the homes, and the tracks in the ground, that there may have been a struggle before the people were transported elsewhere. Where that location would be, I would not know.

During the night, while I was on the first watch with one of Reis' hired men, Giron, three riders from Kison approached, and the one that approached me brandished a sword emanating light, the symbol of our Lord Solarion clearly evident. Having told them the same story I have relayed to you, though a much shorter version, the three riders rode off to pursue the rider we had encountered.

Now, we have come to follow up on the situation. Have you received any reports from your agents in the field?"

[Athaleon]

While Amanaki asked around, Damiel tried to look around for some kind of indexing or organizational system. A place with this many books couldn't possibly go without one, not if they wanted to find anything in a timely manner.


Not sure if this would be Perception, or straight INT, or what have you. So here's a roll with the appropriate bonus to be added:

[roll0]

[Henry the 57th]

Inside the Public Works building, Amanaki goes over to the talk to one of the women sitting behind the desk. When she looks up from what she was doing, he can see that she's an elf with a prominent scar across the left side of her neck.

"That would be me." Alicia regards Amanaki, puckering her lips. "So, what do you want?" she asks curtly.

Meanwhile, Damiel looks around and soon finds an absolutely enormous tome displayed prominently on a plinith near to the door. Opening it up, he finds an elaborate classification system listing books by section, then shelf, then row, then number on the row. Just turning the pages it's obvious there are thousands and thousands of works here placed in no immediately apparent order.

____________________________

Inside the temple of Cebaal, Carlos simply folds his arms across his chest and stares down at Isabella.

"I've had my right arm ripped off by a dragon before," he comments. "If you think you're going to scare me by getting up in my face, you're sadly mistaken. But what's this about fighting the dead in Lerest? Is the town safe? What of the patrol headed that way?"

This is a temple antechamber clearly used to screen out guests and carefully devoid of anything revealing or important.. It's well-maintained and frequently used, often by armored feet judging by some of the imprints in the crimson carpeting. No obviously non-humanoid tracks are in evidence. People usually come in here and either turn around or else pass through the door that Carlos is presently standing in front of. There is another, smaller door off towards the side, but it appears less used and has no one in front of it.

_____________________________

"By the gods..." the paladin before Robert swears. "An entire village wiped out, right on our doorstep? And this is the first we've heard of it? Damnation..." he takes a moment, composing himself before continuing. "My thanks for bringing this knowledge right to us. You did the right thing. This is a problem beyond my station, though. Grand Marshal Giovanni is the head of of martial order here. You need to speak to him right away. Come, quickly."

The man beckons, before turning swiftly around and and setting off down the corridor. He makes surprisingly good pace for a man in full steel plate armor, the heavy footfalls of his boots echoing through the confined space as you go. He leads Robert and Lapis through a series of narrow but well-maintained halls, passing by several robes acolytes and armored warriors bearing the radiance along the way. It takes him but a short time to lead you into a small antechamber filled with weapon racks, a grindstone, and a shelf full of powders and glass vials of unknown purpose.

Without waiting a further second the paladin crosses the chamber and throws open the door on the other side. You briefly hear the clash of steel against steel, before he shouts something in the same musical language that the paladins in Lerest were using. The sounds of clashing swords are swiftly replaced with those of footsteps, and the paladin continues speaking in their favored tongue. Very shortly a middle-aged man with graying black hair, a hard face with a thick mustache, and shimmering silver armor trimmed with gold makes an appearance. His brow is furrowed, and his lips are pursed.

"I'm told you have urgent news for me," he says, the golden radiance on his breastplate gleaming in the torchlight. "something to do with an attack on Lerest?"

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

The tracks didn't tell her a lot but it was an interesting use of her time, an unguarded unused door was interesting - common supplies would likely be well used and important areas secured, she turned back to the conversation allowing a slight smile to form - it was like watching a pack, the hunter gathered info but the protector wanted to protect the alpha from harm thereby keeping the returning hunter away for a time until they felt everything was vetted.

"Is my presence here a concern ? If you are worried about me - as a stranger - murdering your high priest and so are duly cautious I can leave, and perhaps catch the others at Solarion's temple" it might be interesting to see if any contrast existed between the two "I would take no offence at this" she offered. Isabella might make better time without her fellows having to worry about an unknown in their presence - the wolf that brings back something unknown might well harm the pack after all - and these priests had no knowledge of her.

[Bryconium]

"Perhaps it would be be bet if you did leave, thank you Svisyrra. I shall meet you all back at the inn." She turns back to Carlos with a slight smile, "Lerest was indeed attacked, by powerful undead and what I presume to be a mage. Being as I confronted the leader and his undead it is imperative that I speak with the High Priest.

[HerbertWest]

"By the gods..." the paladin before Robert swears. "An entire village wiped out, right on our doorstep? And this is the first we've heard of it? Damnation..." he takes a moment, composing himself before continuing. "My thanks for bringing this knowledge right to us. You did the right thing. This is a problem beyond my station, though. Grand Marshal Giovanni is the head of of martial order here. You need to speak to him right away. Come, quickly."

The man beckons, before turning swiftly around and and setting off down the corridor. He makes surprisingly good pace for a man in full steel plate armor, the heavy footfalls of his boots echoing through the confined space as you go. He leads Robert and Lapis through a series of narrow but well-maintained halls, passing by several robes acolytes and armored warriors bearing the radiance along the way. It takes him but a short time to lead you into a small antechamber filled with weapon racks, a grindstone, and a shelf full of powders and glass vials of unknown purpose.

Without waiting a further second the paladin crosses the chamber and throws open the door on the other side. You briefly hear the clash of steel against steel, before he shouts something in the same musical language that the paladins in Lerest were using. The sounds of clashing swords are swiftly replaced with those of footsteps, and the paladin continues speaking in their favored tongue. Very shortly a middle-aged man with graying black hair, a hard face with a thick mustache, and shimmering silver armor trimmed with gold makes an appearance. His brow is furrowed, and his lips are pursed.

"I'm told you have urgent news for me," he says, the golden radiance on his breastplate gleaming in the torchlight. "something to do with an attack on Lerest?"

Robert nods his understanding to the man needing to report this to his superior, and follows the other paladin silently as he leads them through the corridor to Grand Marshal Giovanni's location. Allowing himself a look around what he assumes the armory, as Giovanni approaches, Robert focuses his attention on the man before him. He looked vaguely familiar, but he could not place the name nor the face from the last time he was in Kison. Recognizing Giovanni's station, Robert gives him a formal bow, as much as his plate mail will allow, before addressing the older man before them.

"It is an honor, Grand Marshal. Robert, at your service in this matter. You are correct that I bring dire news of Lerest. I have given a full report to your man here, and I will inform you of the same. As part of a caravan, Lady Almasy, who has come with me here, and I along with four others went to scout Lerest ahead of the civilian passengers to ensure their safety. We encountered a rider upon a horse, with an undead host under his command. We were able to dispatch the abominations, however, the rider was able to flee on his mount before we could take him into custody. Judging from their participation in the altercation, they have skill with magic and martial prowess to match it. Three of your men arrived in Lerest later that evening to pursue the dark rider, and I have heard nothing from them since. That is why I came to you, to see if you had any report from your men in the field, and to see if I can assist in the hunt. I believe that while some of the townsfolk lost their lives, many were taken captive, for what foul purpose is anyone's guess."

[DaOldeWolf]

"We are looking for information of the magical sort. It might give us insight in some strange magical artifacts that we find on our way to the city. We have received permission to use the information from the magical books by a member of the church of Cebaal." AManaki explains giving some detail into the situation hoping it would ease their possible worries.

[Henry the 57th]

Carlos looks at Svisyrra, tilting his head a little when she mentions others at the temple of Solarion, but otherwise makes no move to stop her from leaving. Once she is safely gone, he looks back at Isabella with a frown.

"Attacked by undead, you say? That is serious. And now that your guest is no longer with us, I think our High Priest could make time for you." He steps aside, pulling the door open. "You know how it goes. Down the hall and take a left, he should be in his study right about now. I think you've caught the old man in a good mood today, Cebaal be praised."

Isabella steps through the doorway, into a windowless hall lit by more of the red torchlight. Even in the dim lighting its easy to see that the familiar halls are immaculately clean and well-ordered, with everything in its place. She knows the way well enough, and walks briskly down the hall, passing a few other robed acolytes going about their business in the process. Finding the way to High Priest Alejo's study is no problem, and she soon arrives. After just a moment of composing herself, and smoothing out her robes and hair, she knocks politely exactly three times and stands back, waiting for an answer.

A moment later, the oak door swings open on its own to admit her. Inside, the High Priest's study is as perfectly ordered as the demanding man could want. Half a dozen bookshelves stacked neatly with hundreds of tomes line the walls, surrounding a sturdy wooden desk set out with writing implements, a glowing red crystal, scrolls in their case, a caged robin, and a small statue of Cebaal placed centrally right before Alejo himself. The seventy-odd year old man himself is seated, bent over and scratching something onto a scroll with a quill and not even bothering to look up. His steely grey hair and red-silver robes are about all that can be seen of him from here.

"Yes?" he says, without ceremony. "What is it?"

For the notoriously stern and fastidious cleric, that's about as kind a greeting as can be expected.

__________________________________

The Grand Marshal listens to Robert, frown deepening as he goes on. He looks over at the other paladin meaningfully, and the man immediately begins speaking in their special tongue again. Giovanni occasionally interrupts to ask a question or two, but mostly just lets the man speak. When he's done, the older paladin turns back to Robert.

"This rider you spoke of," he says. "Tell me everything you can about him. We've seen dead like this before, but nothing about a rider accompanying them. Do you know which way these dead departed from Lerest? If they truly seized the bulk of the population, we may not be too late to save them if we hurry. The burden would be substantial."

__________________________________

Alicia raises an eyebrow. "I'm afraid you're going to have to be a little more specific. What kind of magical artifacts? What kind of magic? There are hundreds of tomes on the nature and theories of magic here. What do you know and what are you trying to find out?"

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

It was somewhat amusing to her how people behaved as she took her leave from them, she had experienced the magic of the enemy first hand and had sent her agents to engage him and had done the review of the town - but others would now relay this information due to connections within the town. She didn't truely understand how civilisation continued to function.

Still she had some free time now while the others explored what they felt was relevant and so had time to think - if the dead were as intellegent as the living and had access to magic and had the city in there sights it was likely they were already within it as a scouting force.

A city this size would need to have a sewer system, and that meant rats and thier larger cousins - moving to a alley she assumed the form of a dire rat and than began a long search of the city - quering her new kin and noting any smells or sights that normal people would miss.


Become a dire rat.
Explore the town for anything odd.
Perception (scent, low light vision): [roll0]
Survival (for tracking anything she notes as curious): [roll1]

Wild Empathy (to gather information from rats and get them on side for later): [roll2]
Stealth (for avoiding issues is needed): Take 10, for a 20.

[Athaleon]

Damiel gave a low whistle as he examined the enormous tome. Despite the meticulous cataloguing of these volumes, they weren't actually sorted in any kind of order that he could tell. He decided, unless someone could give him a better idea, to make a short (or at least, shorter) list of titles that caught his eye as being helpful, and their locations.

[tonberryking]

Lapis seems content to let Robert do the explaining, feeling left out of the loop as matters and protocols of paladins are on display and she is not of one them, up until the moment the Grand Marshal asks about the rider. Perhaps out of a bruised pride, or to show she can actually speak, Lapis glances to her comrade.

"What direction was the village facing from our entry? I think he drove his steed away between a building or two..."

[Bryconium]

Isabella gave Carlos a nod as she walked down, happy to once again in the halls of Cebaal. To the uninitatied her conversation with the paladin might have seemed confrontational, but such was the nature of meetings between equals in Cebaal's temple. Such confrontations served to establish both a pecking order and respect among peers. Though Carlos had won this time, she didn't think she gave too bad a showing herself, and chalked it up to rust, not getting to have such experiences isolated in the frontier.

As High Priest Alejo acknowledged her, Isabella performed the traditional bow that one does when meeting with the High Priest. While she was expected to bicker with Carlos, a superior was expected immediate obeisance, and the High Priest even more. She then falls to her knees and bows her head before delieverin her report, as is expected when addressing the High Priest. Your Eminence, by Cebaal's will I bring grave news. The settlement of Lerest was attacked by strange, powerful undead led by an armored mage. Though he fled before I could get a proper look at his abilities, my initial estimates would lead me to believe that he is a mage of no small power, as a well as a moderately skill swordsman. The settlement was empty, though it seemed as if the people were driven off rather than slaughtered. I seek your guidance in these matters, as well as permission to hunt the mage."

[HerbertWest]

The Grand Marshal listens to Robert, frown deepening as he goes on. He looks over at the other paladin meaningfully, and the man immediately begins speaking in their special tongue again. Giovanni occasionally interrupts to ask a question or two, but mostly just lets the man speak. When he's done, the older paladin turns back to Robert.

"This rider you spoke of," he says. "Tell me everything you can about him. We've seen dead like this before, but nothing about a rider accompanying them. Do you know which way these dead departed from Lerest? If they truly seized the bulk of the population, we may not be too late to save them if we hurry. The burden would be substantial."



Lapis seems content to let Robert do the explaining, feeling left out of the loop as matters and protocols of paladins are on display and she is not of one them, up until the moment the Grand Marshal asks about the rider. Perhaps out of a bruised pride, or to show she can actually speak, Lapis glances to her comrade.

"What direction was the village facing from our entry? I think he drove his steed away between a building or two..."

"The rider headed South from Lerest, thoug I am surprised to hear that this is the first report you have received regarding the fate of Lerest. Three of your men engaged us in Lerest, and pursued the rider of their own accord. Do they have no way of communicating with you regarding their pursuit?"

Robert appears irritated at the general lack of information the church of Solarion has regarding what has happened at Lerest, the paladin trying to bury his anger beneath protocol. He looks away from the paladins to Lapis, as if requesting her to step in if he becomes irrational, before continuing his speech.

"As for your question about the adversary,, they wore armor, mounted a heavy steed, controlled spellcraft well enough to attempt to dispel one of our companions' spells, and to attack multiple summoned monsters as a reaction." My opinion is that we should call a conference of all faiths to discuss our options between all of the churches. This matter does not affect only only one people, but ties into the overall pestilence that plagues all of Aeryrth."

[DaOldeWolf]

"We are looking into necromancy. Before we arrived to the city, we encountered someone who defied our expectations of what to speak of one capable of using such type of magic. We are looking for information about it to look into this more deeply. Hopefully, there will be some books about the subject as we have been informed about the existence of books of magic in this library." Amanaki informs her.

[Henry the 57th]

Svisyrra finds her way into a secluded side street with a convenient storm drain before transforming. In the form of a large rodent, she crawls her way down into one of the city's many drains. The fact that thousands of people are crammed into a city built for far fewer means that the wide, arched stone sewers that she finds herself in are over capacity and not at all pleasant to her newly sensitive nose. Still, the conditions are miserable but not past the point of endurance, so after suppressing the bile threatening to rise up her throat, she proceeds deeper into the mire.

The stone walkways down here are flooded in sections, though not so much as to be more than an inconvenience for a human or dire rat. With her keen eyes and sensitive nose, the druid does not have to take too long to find other, smaller rats making their layers in the deep dark. The little vermin don't seem to be too shy around her - after a few sniffs and some cautious probing, a handful of them seem to materialize from the cracks and crevices at her call. They aren't especially knowledgeable on anything beyond their immediate environment, but they are friendly enough.

It is just as Svisyrra is considering taking her search elsewhere that her nose twitches. Through the overpowering scent of sewage, she picks up something different: decay. Looking around, she spots a hint of movement across the river of muck. From here looks to be some sort of large cockroach skittering down the wall, but ordinarily rats don't cringe back from insects like her little friends are doing. One or two outright bolt back into their holes.

________________________________

Damiel, for lack of an immediate better plan, begins the arduous process of searching through the vast reference tome in an attempt to make it divulge something meaningful amongst all the assorted drivel. As large as this book is, it might be a difficult. Still, he flips through page after page, putting his brain to work.

Make a Perception check to see if you pick out titles that look good, or an Intelligence roll to see if you can make heads or tails of the system they're using.

Meanwhile, Alicia bites her lip the moment Damiel mentions Necromancy, glancing to the side for just a moment. When she looks back at him, the elf woman has gone visibly paler.

"You're asking about raising the dead?" she says, voice much lower. "Give me one good reason I should even think about letting you into our Restricted section. Inquisitors don't look kindly on too many people traipsing about up there."

Now would be a good time for a Diplomacy check or possibly a bribe.

_________________________________

Inside Cebaal's temple, the quill in Alejo's hand snaps. Isabella winces reflexively, memories of previous unwelcome surprises dancing in her head. It doesn't help that the door behind her closes that very moment like the jaws of some great beast, slamming shut with a powerful thud. She stands there, nervously, wondering what's going through the old man's mind.

At last, after a few tense moments of silence that seem like a lot longer to the Inquisitor, the High Priest looks up. His face is hard in spite of the visible wrinkles and age spots, his sharply-trimmed grey beard concealing the worst of frailties. Alejo's perpetual frown graces his sunken green eyes, and his mouth is curled into a angry snarl. He sits back in his chair, allowing his broken quill to clatter noisily to the stone floor. He folds both hands together, resting his chin on them.

"Tell me everything you know. When did this happen? What were there numbers? Did they take anything? Which way did they flee? This mage..." Isabella can hear the venom in his voice. "What of him? Whence did he depart?"

__________________________________

"We lack any instantaneous means to communicate with our patrols," the Grand Marshal admits. "We do choose our most capable and independent to run them for a reason. They are dangerous, but necessary to keep the roads and towns safe. Or... so we thought." He rubs his forehead, muttering in the same inhuman tongue. It doesn't sound very pleasant. "Striking at our very doorstep. This horseman or his master must be either insane or have far more strength than we know to try that. He has to know it will provoke a response. To what end? Damn it all."

Giovanni puts a hand to his chin, deep in thought. It doesn't last long. A few seconds later, he barks out several terse otherworldly sentences to the paladin who brought the two of you here. The other man nods, salutes, and hurries off back the way you three came.

"I think you may be right," he says. "If what you say is true, this is a threat to even more than us. Much as I hate to involve the slaves of the Accursed One" Robert recognizes a common insult for Cebaal "this would be within the terms of our agreement. And judging from the company I heard you keep," he glares slightly, "I have no doubt that the good Inquisitor is informing her master even now."

The Grand Marshal sighs, rubbing his temples. "Before we go gallivanting about, tell me all about this force you encountered. How large was it? What was it's composition? What was it doing? These undead - did they look freshly raised from slain civilians, or older?"

[dancrilis]

Svisyrra

Cities were disgusting places she confirmed to herself - but disgusting didn't mean bad for life, and yes it trived even here.

She was happy to be welcomed by the rats if she needed spies in this town there were likely few better for the task even if the information needed to be filtered through there experiences. However she was not looking for immediate infomration on who would feed them without issue and were the most dangerous cats lived and hunted, she was looking for humans who smelled dead and yet walked and on that there information was seemingly not present.

Thinking about taking her search elsewhere she got the whiff of something dead or dying and noted the cockroach - a large one, and one that spooked her new friends, "explain that and your reaction" she chittered adopting a pose that indicated she would protect them but also focusing on the cockroach for beginning communication with it. Many druids never learned now to influence vermin which she regarded as an oversight on their part.


Knowledge (Nature) to confirm anything odd about the cockroach: [roll0]
Wild Empathy (cockroach): [roll1]