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<blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 584203" data-attributes="member: 6294">&quot;Hooberan's Stockade&quot; by Wicht&nbsp; - Part 7As best they can, Sirdros and the Padre tend to the injuries suffered by their companions.&nbsp; The wounds seal under their magical healing, but those on Twinkle and Elspeth remain red and inflamed - it is obvious that they are infected.&quot;That will have to do for now.&quot; The Padre says doubtfully. &quot;But we should try to find out what happened here as quickly as we can, and then get you back to town, where you can get proper treatment.&quot;Still standing near the gate, the group now takes the time to take a good look around them.&nbsp; To their left, they can see a large, two-storey home: easily the largest building in the settlement, except for an enormous barn at the far end of the palisade.&quot;How about we start there?&quot; Mantreus points. &quot;Whoever lives there has to be ri - important.&quot;&quot;A good idea.&quot; the Padre takes charge, &quot;and from there we can easily move down each of the rows.&quot; He sweeps his arm along the grid-like pattern of buildings.&quot;I smell smoke.&quot; Twinkle's nose twitches. &quot;It's coming from over there.&quot;&quot;There's a burned out building.&quot; Elspeth confirms, her keen eyes untroubled by the darkness.&quot;We'll get to it.&nbsp; Better to do this methodically - we might miss some buildings, otherwise.&quot; the Padre likes His Plan.The others shrug and agree, seemingly not too concerned about the order in which the buildings are investigated.&quot;Blackfang.&nbsp; Stay.&nbsp; Guard.&quot; Stormstrider shows the flat of his hand to his wolf companion, then strokes the animal's muzzle affectionately before turning back to the group. &quot;He'll let us know if anyone approaches the gate while we're busy.&quot;&quot;Really?&quot; Twinkle sounds doubtful.&nbsp; There's a soft growl in response, and the gnome yelps and skips back from the wolf, before realising that the sound came from Stormstrider.&nbsp; She gives him a nervous grin. &quot;So, how 'bout we check out that house?&quot;The group heads over to the building, quickly determining that the front door is unlocked.&nbsp; With Stormstrider and Elspeth leading the way, they quietly enter the front hallway.&nbsp; Several doors and a flight of stairs lead off this area, which is richly carpeted.&nbsp; It is obvious that this is the home of one of the settlement's most important people.&quot;I think we found the Hooberan household.&quot; Elspeth remarks, carefully moving forward to peer through the nearest open doorway.&quot;Hello?&nbsp; Anyone home?&quot; Twinkle suddenly calls out loudly, causing several of the group to jump.&nbsp; She moves to the foot of the stairs and climbs a short way up, using the railing to keep her balance on the human-sized steps.&nbsp; &quot;Ugh.&quot; She pulls her hand away from the balustrade, and the others can see that it is covered in patches of a sticky black substance. &quot;Blood.&quot;&quot;There are patches leading toward the back of the house, as well.&quot; Stormstrider kneels, pointing to several darker stains in the maroon carpet.&quot;We should follow them.&quot;&nbsp; It's Sirdros who speaks, but the thought is on everyone's mind.&nbsp; There is no need for further discussion as the adventurers slowly filter down the hallway and into the dining room beyond.&nbsp; A double door with glass panels stands open in the left wall, and the trail of blood stains leads the group through and into a kitchen.&nbsp; Here, the floor is paved stone rather than carpets, and the splashes of blood are easier to see and follow.From the kitchen, the group moves into what was evidently the pantry.&nbsp; Shelves line the walls, while baskets, sacks and barrels are stacked beneath them.&nbsp; One shelf is empty, with shards of pottery scattered on the flagstones below it.&quot;Signs of a struggle, maybe?&quot; Mantreus asks.&quot;I don't think so.&quot; Elspeth shakes her head, &quot;There's nothing else to suggest it.&quot;&quot;Except that.&quot; Stormstrider points at a trapdoor in the corner.&nbsp; Half-hidden by barrels, the door has been ripped free of its hinges, leaving a dark hole in the floor.Twinkle moves forward and crouches to peer into the hole.&quot;Stairs.&quot; She reports. &quot;Looks they like lead into some kind of cellar.&quot;&nbsp; The gnome straightens and backs up, keeping her eyes watchfully on the opening.&nbsp; It is left to the Padre to ask the obvious question:&quot;So.&nbsp; Who wants to go down first?&quot;</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Capellan, post: 584203, member: 6294"] [b]"Hooberan's Stockade" by Wicht - Part 7[/b] As best they can, Sirdros and the Padre tend to the injuries suffered by their companions. The wounds seal under their magical healing, but those on Twinkle and Elspeth remain red and inflamed - it is obvious that they are infected. "That will have to do for now." The Padre says doubtfully. "But we should try to find out what happened here as quickly as we can, and then get you back to town, where you can get proper treatment." Still standing near the gate, the group now takes the time to take a good look around them. To their left, they can see a large, two-storey home: easily the largest building in the settlement, except for an enormous barn at the far end of the palisade. "How about we start there?" Mantreus points. "Whoever lives there has to be ri - important." "A good idea." the Padre takes charge, "and from there we can easily move down each of the rows." He sweeps his arm along the grid-like pattern of buildings. "I smell smoke." Twinkle's nose twitches. "It's coming from over there." "There's a burned out building." Elspeth confirms, her keen eyes untroubled by the darkness. "We'll get to it. Better to do this methodically - we might miss some buildings, otherwise." the Padre likes His Plan. The others shrug and agree, seemingly not too concerned about the order in which the buildings are investigated. "Blackfang. Stay. Guard." Stormstrider shows the flat of his hand to his wolf companion, then strokes the animal's muzzle affectionately before turning back to the group. "He'll let us know if anyone approaches the gate while we're busy." "Really?" Twinkle sounds doubtful. There's a soft growl in response, and the gnome yelps and skips back from the wolf, before realising that the sound came from Stormstrider. She gives him a nervous grin. "So, how 'bout we check out that house?" The group heads over to the building, quickly determining that the front door is unlocked. With Stormstrider and Elspeth leading the way, they quietly enter the front hallway. Several doors and a flight of stairs lead off this area, which is richly carpeted. It is obvious that this is the home of one of the settlement's most important people. "I think we found the Hooberan household." Elspeth remarks, carefully moving forward to peer through the nearest open doorway. "Hello? Anyone home?" Twinkle suddenly calls out loudly, causing several of the group to jump. She moves to the foot of the stairs and climbs a short way up, using the railing to keep her balance on the human-sized steps. "Ugh." She pulls her hand away from the balustrade, and the others can see that it is covered in patches of a sticky black substance. "Blood." "There are patches leading toward the back of the house, as well." Stormstrider kneels, pointing to several darker stains in the maroon carpet. "We should follow them." It's Sirdros who speaks, but the thought is on everyone's mind. There is no need for further discussion as the adventurers slowly filter down the hallway and into the dining room beyond. A double door with glass panels stands open in the left wall, and the trail of blood stains leads the group through and into a kitchen. Here, the floor is paved stone rather than carpets, and the splashes of blood are easier to see and follow. From the kitchen, the group moves into what was evidently the pantry. Shelves line the walls, while baskets, sacks and barrels are stacked beneath them. One shelf is empty, with shards of pottery scattered on the flagstones below it. "Signs of a struggle, maybe?" Mantreus asks. "I don't think so." Elspeth shakes her head, "There's nothing else to suggest it." "Except that." Stormstrider points at a trapdoor in the corner. Half-hidden by barrels, the door has been ripped free of its hinges, leaving a dark hole in the floor. Twinkle moves forward and crouches to peer into the hole. "Stairs." She reports. "Looks they like lead into some kind of cellar." The gnome straightens and backs up, keeping her eyes watchfully on the opening. It is left to the Padre to ask the obvious question: "So. Who wants to go down first?" [/QUOTE]

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