[IC] Wandering Star : Heroes of the Middle Reaches (Part One)

[Redclaw]

Varilar's eyes narrow as he tries to process the halfling's story. So, he says thoughtfully. The tooth posed as a feather, or perhaps something about the Sea Devil encouraged the feather to become a tooth. There is certainly some wisdom in the action if either is true, but I am curious about how we discover the truth. He thinks a while longer, then seems to reach a decision. I think returning to the temple is our best bet. The old one might know something of this, or be able to reverse the process.

 

[The Digger]

"Yes. Back to the temple seems to be the best idea. We'll take the prisoners with us coz they might have more to say - 'specially if we prod them a little."

Charlie's grin served to indicate that she wasn't really into torture - but a good kicking was probably all right!

 

[helium3]

Looking about, Charlotte spots a tottering but serviceable cart nearly buried under a pile of moldering crates in the the alley the elf traversed in the battle outside the house. Perhaps it can be used to transport the prisoners (the unconscious Sea Devil in particular) back to Sailor's Hope.

 

[Walking Dad]

"This is really strange. But I think that a fishtooth makes more sense for a temple in a coastal town..." Jorje says.

[sblock=OOC]

[sblock=Mini stat block]
Jorje
Perception: 12 Insight: 17 Normal Vision
AC 16 Fortitude 13 Reflex 15 Will 15
Hit Points: 24 / 24 Bloodied: 12
Temporary Hit Points: 0
Action Points: 2 Second Wind: 1
Healing Surge: 6 Surges per day: 6 / 8
Encounter Powers: Grasping Shadows
Daily Powers: Phantom Chasm

[/sblock][/sblock]

 

[helium3]

[sblock=OOC]I'm assuming that the plan is to head back to the temple and am going to write accordingly. If there's something that still needs to be done feel free to say, "before we left my character . . ."

I wouldn't mind knowing what you do with the bodies of the gang members you killed. Do you just leave them there or what?[/sblock]The party sets to work and within a short while the rickety cart is freed from its moldering prison. It'll be a bit squeaky, but it'll do.

The trussed up Sea Devil is unceremoniously dumped into the cart. He has yet to regain consciousness. The hafling is seated next to the creature and he does his level best to pretend it's not there. With that, the party gathers itself and sets off in the direction of Sailor's Hope.

It takes a few minutes but the abandoned zone the party is left behind. The streets are just as deserted as before, but the buildings are well kept and the subtle signs of everyday life abound. Ahead, the bright beacon of the light house burns hot. Its light reflects like a hundred jewels in the puddles left by the rainstorm from earlier in the evening.

The party stops to take a brief rest. Dragging the cart by hand is not easy work. In the silence, the faint sound of shouting voices can be heard. Nothing can be gleaned from the sounds but it seems quite clear that the carnage at the abandoned house has been discovered. The question is, by whom?

 

[Blackrat]

Before leaving Zarathas gathers all the bodies in a neat row on the balcony and performs the short rites of death he knows. He is no priest of the Raven Queen, but he is a man of the faith none-the-less. Even in their blasphemous act, it is not in his place to deny them their passage to the afterlife. The gods will tend to them from now on. "We'll let the guards know what happened here and the Raven Queen's faithfull to take care of the rest."

"I hope it's the guards who found them." Zarathas thinks aloud as the commotion from behind reaches his ears. "At least that way they get proper burial. If there's more of these devil-spawn, who knows what would happen to the bodies." He leaves his thoughts ominously hanging in the air.

[sblock=OOC]Unless anyone objects we leave the dead on the balcony in a neat row?[/sblock]

 

[helium3]

Eventually, even the distant shouts and cry for alarm dwindle into whispers and then fade entirely as the slender spike of Sailor's Hope rises higher into the sky.

The bonfires at the tower's base were dark when you left. Now they burn. Their flickering light illuminates the paintings along the the column's length. Usually seen in detail only while illuminated by the sun, the muted light of the flames transform even the placid ripples of summer into ominous warnings of an impending gale.

In front of the bonfires you can see five individuals. From this distance the details are difficult to make out. They're all folk of middling size. Guards of some sort, they wear hide armor, blunt snub-nosed helms and carry thick clubs over their shoulders. They don't appear to have noticed you.

[sblock=OOC]What now?[/sblock]

 

[Blackrat]

I am in no condition to fight anymore. Zarathas utters silently as he wonders about the men. Charlie, could you sneak past them to the temple and see if you can find a priest to explain this. Maybe they are just mercs called by the temple, but they could also be friends of this beast.

 

[Walking Dad]

"This sounds like a good idea. Sorry, I don't know any spell yet to help you with this." Jorje says.

[sblock=OOC]

[sblock=Mini stat block]
Jorje
Perception: 12 Insight: 17 Normal Vision
AC 16 Fortitude 13 Reflex 15 Will 15
Hit Points: 24 / 24 Bloodied: 12
Temporary Hit Points: 0
Action Points: 2 Second Wind: 1
Healing Surge: 6 Surges per day: 6 / 8
Encounter Powers: Grasping Shadows
Daily Powers: Phantom Chasm

[/sblock][/sblock]

 

[Redclaw]

I'll try to keep an eye on her, and provide a distraction if needed, Varilar says.