Adventure: Delivery of Death (DM: Luinnar, Judge: renau1g)

Despite Jax's efforts he cannot find anywhere warm to sleep and decides to follow the rest of the party to the raft.

Perhaps it was Ingot's spoken concern, but the young man follows Ingot up to the raft and gets on after him, carrying his book and a lantern saying "In sorcerer the Daegon of house the born, though shall unliving, unlife, life scorn." You cast off and make way in the direction of the town town. You use the rows and polls to guide your way. Soon you reach the end of the dark and dreary swamp. Getting off the raft you see the village in the distance to the east.

As the party begin to leave the swamp and approach the village of Marais d'Tarascon, the sky fills with rolling black clouds. For the first time, lightning plays across the heavens. Still, no rain falls. The storm simply hangs over the swamp and the village, occasionally sending a bolt of lightning toward the ground or letting loose a clap of ominous thunder. When it finally breaks, the storm promises to be spectacular. The party approaches the village from the west. The storm clouds continue to build; despite the early hour, it seems like dusk. The youth follows Ingot like a faithful dog, walking just a few steps behind him and carrying his book of poetry and an ever-blazing lantern.

You use the map to find the bakery close to the edge of town. It is a small building with a thatched roof and stone walls, similar to the others around it. A sign proclaiming "Bakery d'Cann" hangs across the top of the door. You are about to enter but notice another sign, “Closed for Funeral”. A short distance away you can hear a man giving a speech and hushed voices of people whispering to each other. It is too far away to make out clearly what they say, so you decide to head in that direction to see what the commotion is about. On the way you pass a large building labeled the "Full Moon Inn" with a similar sign of the door "Gone to Church".

You approach the church, a large building in better repair than the ones nearby, there is a holy symbol on the door proclaiming the deity of the church.



[sblock=Religion=17]You remember from your studies that the symbol belongs to that of Saint Cuthbert, patron of law and order. A god that was worshiped in the island area over a hundred years ago, but has fallen out of favor with the people in recent years.[/sblock]


You spot an outdoor funeral being conducted (despite the threatening sky). As you approach solemn faces gaze at you suspiciously, but no one says a word. The villagers soon return their attention to the priest who stands over a coffin wrapped in heavy chains. The priest's booming voice echoes throughout the churchyard. “Friends and family, we mourn the untimely death of Jeremiah d'Gris,” he laments. “Let us take comfort in the fact that he goes to a better place, and let us pray that his eternal rest is peaceful and without incident. Jeremiah, you will be missed, but you will not be welcome here again. Depart this plane and go to the next world with our blessing.” The priest continues his liturgy, even though a muffled bang causes him a moment's pause. The villagers flinch but quickly regain their composure. The bang sounds again from within the coffin. The coffin rocks back and forth, but the priest and the crowd ignore it.

[sblock=Map of Town]



*Note, not all spots of interest are labeled with numbers*
1. Full Moon Inn
2. Bakery d'Cann
9. Church
[/sblock]

Jax looks nervously to his companions. The scene is just too unreal; the villagers couldn't be trying to bury this person alive, could they? The kobold appears very anxious about the situation, but he makes no move to interfere... not by himself anyway.

RAM TIGER jumps nervously at the sound of the thunder and the static electricity in the air is making his fur stick out all poofy-like.

When the group reaches the funeral, RAM TIGER's ears perk up at the sound of the banging coming from inside the coffin. He runs right up to it in the middle of the priest's speech and inspects it with his nose, then growls at it. He doesn't like it one bit.

The crowd steps back, alarmed at the sight of RAM TIGER running up to the coffin. Looks of horror can be seen in some of their eyes. The priest stops his liturgy taking a large step back in shock, unsure what course of action to take next.

[sblock=RAM TIGER]
You smell death and decay inside the coffin, the sent of a single body. You are sure there is a fresh corpse inside. You also hear scratching and banging, like something is trying to get out. [/sblock]

Whatever is in there wants out, but RAM TIGER wants in. Obviously, whatever died isn't dead enough for the gnoll's liking. He paces back and fourth giggling nervously, his tiny brain unable to figure out a way to get in. He gnaws on the corner of the coffin and makes a few half-hearted swipes with his claws. He then sits on his haunches and looks back at his 'pack' with a quizzical expression.

Dorn feels a pit in his stomach which only worsens when the assembled mourners seem to ignore the obvious fact that there is something moving inside the coffin. The half-orc feels somewhat comforted to see RAM TIGER's antics, and works up the courage to speak.

"I say," Dorn manages in a high-pitched voice. "Your coffin appears to be a bit.... tippy. And, er, bangy. Would you like us to take a look inside? Wouldn't want the deceased to be interred with a squirrel or something. A very large, very angry squirrel."

The priest turns to Dorn. He is a short and stocky older man with receding graying hair and and pure white robes. On the robes is a symbol, the same one on the church. At his side is an ornamental cudgel. "We are trying to conduct the funereal of this poor man, stranger. Heed not the noises." he says in his deep voice, his face showing signs of anger at the party's arrival. "It would be best if you mind your own business and leave this town in peace, both for our sakes as well as your own." the last phrase spoken more like a warning rather than a threat.

Ingot is nonplussed by the thumping coffin and the priest's reaction to their approach. "Um..." it begins. "Pardon, we will not interfere with your religious rites. But if you have not dealt with whatever it was that your, ah, departed friend encountered, we might be able to assist you with that."

The warforged turns to face the crowd. "Is there a Louise d'Cann present? We need to speak with her."