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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 903957" data-attributes="member: 6294">"The Burning Plague" by Miguel Duran (WotC Free Adventure) - Part 3Father Samual is a round-faced, rather bird-like priest with owlish eyes and a fringe of uncombed silver-white hair on an otherwise bald head.  Dark circles under his eyes make it clear that he has not been getting enough sleep, probably for quite some time.Despite his drawn look, the middle-aged priest makes an amiable host to the six adventurers, and patiently confirms the accuracy of all the details they have previously heard from the guard:  the disease appears to have entered the town through contaminated water originating at the mine, and - though the water continues to be contaminated - it is the town's only reliable supply, which means people have had no choice but to keep drinking it."This mine seems like the best place to begin our investigation." The Padre wins the 'stating the obvious' award of the day, "As soon as we've had a chance to rest and prepare.""Make sure to prepare spells for the creation or purification of food and water." Father Samual counsels the priest of St Cuthbert. "If any of your companions are capable of similar magic, they should use them as well."The wisdom of this advice is clear, and the next morning the adventurers create several gallons of water: more than enough to supply them all for the day.  They give the excess to Father Samual, who gives them a scroll in reward for their generosity.  The scroll contains three minor healing spells, sufficient to prevent the death of those who have been sorely wounded, though little more.Thus supplied, the group begins the journey to the mine, stopping only long enough to leave their horse and wagon at the Doverspeak Estate.  As the guard had predicted, Mister Doverspeak might not be drinking the water, but he certainly hasn't been going thirsty."I don't know what's worse." Mantreus mutters as they begin the long walk, "That we just left the horse with a man who was so drunk he could barely stand, or that he still had better control of it than we did."Despite their early departure from the town, it is mid-afternoon by the time the adventurers some in sight of the entrance of the mine.  It has been a long, tiring walk up roads of slippery, icy mud and uneven stone.  It is a relief to reach an area of relatively flat terrain, though the slight hollowing of the ground here has caused drifts of snow to build up."Look there." The Padre points out several seemingly abandoned picks and shovels, which lie littered around the clearing, several of them jutting out of drifts of dirty snow.  Rather macabrely assuming that this must mean there are bodies beneath the snow, the Padre promptly goes digging into the drifts, but it turns out to be only his imagination working overtime.  His distraction with this task proves too great a temptation for Twinkle, however, and the young gnome lets fly with a snowball, catching the Priest in the back of the head.With snow slowly dripping off his helmet, the Padre straightens and gives Twinkle a reproving stare.  He visibly considers a number of scathing remarks, but ultimately recognises the futility of criticising the gnome's lack of discipline.  Instead, he turns and stalks over to the entrance of the mine, calling for her to follow him."I want you to check for signs of what happened here." He gestures into the dark opening in the side of the mountain.  Twinkle gives it a nervous stare, but doesn't move.  The priest sighs, "I'll be right here, Twinkle.  I'll cover you with my crossbow the whole time.""Is that supposed to make her feel better?" Anastria asks.  It's not clear if she means the comment as a joke, or if it is a sneer at the Padre's marksmanship.  The priest simply ignores her, keeping his attention on Twinkle,"We don't want to go blundering in, and you're the best scout we have." He reminds her, "You can see better in dim light, and you're a smaller target than anyone else except Rose.  Besides, it's time you made yourself useful."Although clearly reluctant, and already plotting revenge for that last comment, Twinkle steals forward into the tunnel, pressing close to the wall as she moves.  Her investigation immediately bears results."There's damage to the struts here," she reports in a hoarse, dry whisper, "The ones supporting the entrance - they look like might have been caused by weapons."Despite his admonition about not blundering in, the priest promptly moves up to inspect the marks, and nods his agreement."There's also stains on the floor." He notes. "Could be blood."Stormstrider moves up and crouches to examine the stains more closely,"Blood." He confirms. "And signs of many tracks.  There was a fight here.""Weapons out." The Padre needlessly instructs, "It's time to go in.  Anastria and Stormstrider: you've got the front.  Let's find out what's going on here."</blockquote>

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