Phar had his eyes closed and was sitting near the fire as the night got colder. He opened them for a moment,
"I will not surmise what foul customs these humans observed nor do will I debate their right to a proper burial. Those with closer ties to their gods can decide if any rites are deserved. Instead, I will propose that it would be worth interring them if only to rid this pitiful place of one more scar upon the land and to save some other hapless soul who would otherwise stumble upon the gruesome sight. Furthermore, I have access to a powerful valance that would allow me to shapechange into a burrowing creature. Perhaps a bullette would do. Or perhaps I could summon a dire badger. It would be nothing to dig a hole and inter them."
He closed his eyes again
"We should bury them. If for no other reason than prevent them from coming after us. I will not recommend their souls to the Soul Forge even if they probably could use some reforging. Whatever destiny awaits them is of their own doing. We can burn them, but that might attract attention. I will say a blessing that will prevent them from coming up. Digging would be useful."
Maur nods to Phar as says his piece.
Aureus nods in agreement.
Locke: Gritting his teeth, he takes in the scene. He sniffs shallowly, taking in the mixture of naughty word, dried bile, and bodily decay.
And through his gritted teeth, “Burn them. Damn the smoke. Burn them. It’ll take too long to bury them. Say rites for them. Dispatch them properly. But burn them.“
He moves to the closest body, and drawing his sword, separates the head from the torso.
He pulls his holy symbol from his haversack and says a blessing. Then he drags the body into a pile with several others. He begins to start a funeral pyre.
Phar moves and puts a hand on Locke's shoulder. The elf then summons a dire badger and the conjured animal quickly digs out a proper hole in which to bury the corpses.
"Can undead raise again if they are slain as undead?" asks Litrix "Don't we have to burry only these two mummies? And if they didn't get up by now, I doubt they will."
He considers for a moment.
"We should bury them, fire and smoke will be visible all over the place and if Phar and Caerth can bury them easily, there is no need to draw attention to ourselves."
Turning to Locke
"Maybe a proper introductions are in order, stranger? Thank you for the help with those things. I am Litrix Maekrix, knight of Zelloran."
OOC: Not actually mummies. Just desiccated in the dry conditions.
It takes very little time for Phar's summoned dire badger to finish and everyone helps move the remains into the freshly dug deep hole. Maur hallows the area around the newly dug mass grave. He and Caerth both say a blessing over the bodies to help prevent any of the dead from rising as undead. In these cursed lands, it is a real risk.
The dire badger quickly moves the dug up earth back onto the dead bodies and Phar also has the animal move some earth to partially fill in the giant-sized privies... just enough to keep the smell of death from wafting through the air as you all rest for the night.
While the early part of the night is uneventful, it is obvious to everyone that Caerth is restless. He's seemed distant since you all left the ruined temple. During the first watch, the half-orc druid seeks out Maur while everyone else sleeps. He tells the dwarven Champion of Moradin that he is leaving the group. While his words are upsetting, they don't completely shock Maur.
"You're going to have to take the lead as their healer from now on," Caerth says as he looks towards the sleep Aureus.
"While she can help you, her skills are still limited as a divine bard." He takes out his healing wand and hands it to Maur.
"This will help. I won't need it."
OOC: The wand of
cure light wounds has 40 charges left.
The half-orc then rests until it is his turn to take watch. He relieves Litrix who took the second watch. He tells him that he is leaving in the morning and returning to watch over the Temple of Bogphin.
By the time it is Phar's turn, the paragon elf is already aware that something is up. He doesn't sleep after all. Both agree to talk about it with Aureus when it is her turn to take watch just before the dawn. Caerth sleeps some more until Phar wakes Aureus for her watch. The three of them talk quietly for a few hours. They've all been together for quite a while, along with Quinn.
"What about Quinn?" Aureus asks.
"He and Cruel Justice won't like you leaving with Kang."
"I'll talk to Quinn in the morning," Caerth insists.
"I think he senses something is up. Or, at least, Cruel Justice senses it."
"It is not his choice to make," Qi interjects.
"Kang is your companion. While I would prefer to keep our son close, it won't be the first time we've been apart. You have been the one person who has been able to handle Kang's dark moods."
Caerth nods.
He remains awake while Phar goes off to meditate. When Aureus wakes Angus for his watch, Caerth informs the Harqualian centaur about his intention to leave the group. Angus is a bit surprised. He knew Caerth was struggling with something but he didn't know it was this serious.
Quinn takes the last watch just as dawn breaks. The group lets Locke sleep. He is new to the group, after all.
Quinn's human eyes need the light. He and Caerth have a heated conversation. Quinn objects more to Caerth not finishing to help to get Brutus's ring back than anything to do with Kang. Cruel Justice does object, strongly, but the half-orc druid is resolute. The conversation is loud enough to wake almost everyone else.
"I will not change my mind," Caerth growls.
"You must not take away my son," CJ says loudly.
"Give him over to Quinn, now!"
"Will you stop being an overprotective fool!" Qi chastises her mate.
"Kang does not want to leave Caerth's side. Surely you can sense it from him?"
"Kang is barely sentient enough to know what he wants," CJ replies glumly. The intelligent blade knows that he won't win against his wife's powerful will.
"I have already given Caerth my blessing. That is the end of it," Qi insists.
"And, don't tell me you weren't eavesdropping on us last night. Quinn might need to sleep, but you don't."
Cruel Justice replies only with silence.
Soon, everyone is awake and gathered around. The argument even woke up Locke.
"I would speak with you in private, Locke Darkmoss," Caerth says to the newcomer. He walks away from the ruined thorp to an isolated hill. Locke follows... a bit unsure.
Once they are alone, Caerth looks up at the sky. The morning is cool. Overnight, the temperature dropped significantly and there is still frost on the ground.
"It looks like today will be a good one for traveling." He glances towards Locke.
"There is something about you. More than what you've told us already." Caerth holds up his hand as Locke begins to object.
"Your secrets are yours, Locke. I've learned that humans often have secrets. Even those you thought you knew for your entire life." Caerth shakes his head as he thinks about his distant mentor.
"No, I called you out here because you are sign I've been waiting for in order to make this decision. Since we discovered the ruins of the temple, I've been beseeching the spirits of these lands for a sign that I'm on the right path... or not." He looks at Locke.
"Two nights ago, I had what only can be described as a vision. A vision of a man riding a horse out of heat of day with his weapon raisede high calling out a name. At first, I thought it was my name." Caerth shakes his head.
"It was the name, Cynra, that I heard. The same name you yelled out when you arrived and came out of the wilderness yesterday."
He steps towards Locke.
"It was you. Of that I'm certain, but you had a different face. A face similar to mine. Is there some orcish in you... I wonder?" He shakes his head again.
"It does not matter. You are here now, and I believe you are meant to be here. now, in the place at this time. Your goddess wills it, it seems. What she and Bogphin have in common is a mystery. It is a mystery that I will try to solve once you and the others have returned to the temple after dealing with Eike."
Caerth looks westward towards where the ruined temple is located. Locke can sense that the ruins seem to be calling out to the half-orc druid. He then looks skyward once again. The sky is filled with dense clouds that partially block out the sun.
"Yes, today will be a good day for travelling." He looks back at Locke.
"I am entrusting my companions, no, my friends to you, Locke Darkmoss. My mission to help find the stolen ring of the half-ogre boy slain by Eike now falls to you and your goddess."
Without another word, Caerth walks back to the ruined thorp. He goes to gather his thoughts and prepare his spells for the day.
Hours later, once all preperations have been made, each of you mount up and prepere to ride towards the barrier of the Gloom. Caerth hands over The Hermit's journal to Aureus.
"You will need this to help guild you to the evil shrine. "Do not lose it! I will want it back once we see each other again."
"Uhm, I cannot read this... you know," she replies while reluctantly taking the book.
"I have added my own words to the back of the book and made notes on the various maps in it, as well in the margins for anything that you might need to know going forward."
Aureus nods.
"I won't lose it."
Caerth says his goodbyes to each of you before mounting his horse. A few final waves are shared as he rides away back towards the ruined temple of Bogphin.
===============================================
Aureus mounts up on Lady and you move out towards the edge of the barrier where Maur's summoned creature, the zelekhut named Rikiron. She glances through the journal of Strateus the Hermit. She inspects the simple maps first before beginning to read what Caerth has written at the end of the book. There is a lot. Soon, however, is forced to stow the book away as th pace picks up and the wind begins to blow. The clouds above are filled with just enough moisture to cause it to spit rain.
Before he had left, Caerth cast
traveller's mount on all their horses. There is no need for
endure elements today, so far. With the enhanced speed, the mounts easily carry you the distance to the location that Maur and Rikiron agreed upon. The zelekhut is waiting at the edge of the barrier in the
exact location the two noted on Aureus' map. The creature of law is absolute in its mindset.
You can tell that the creature has been damaged, slightly. The damage isn't enough to affect the creature's effectiveness. There are scrapes and dents but nothing that threatens the creature's life. It waited patiently and silently on your side of the barrier. On the other side, you can see why the demiplane is called the Gloom. Everything is cloaked in shadows even when the sun comes out completely. The land's appearance is muted... almost gray.
"You have finally come," Rikiron says as you approach. It had been standing motionlessly until Maur's arrival.
"I was certain you would find you're way."
OOC: Traveller's Mount gives the horses a 20-foot enhancement bonus to speed for 1 hour/level. The horses can hustle without taking damage or becoming fatigued. The mount cannot attack during battle while this spell is in effect. It will still carry the rider into combat.
