Ximix looks about the room, as if considering each person for a moment, then stares out the window as he speaks.
"Since we could easily make it back to town and back before dark, let us take a vote to decide if we should recruit more for this mission. Before we vote, lets get some things figured out:
"We don't know for sure if something struck Richard, he could have passed out or knocked out by a spell and hit his head in the fall. Without further skill in healing, we'd never know if the bump was sufficient to cause such a long term unconscious state. I'm sorry to say that I do not have sufficient skill to make that determination, and now with the healing he's received it is too late. So let us review what we know to be the facts:
"Something killed a cow. The evidence we have collected suggests that the killer was: a - undead, b - humanoid, and c - used claws, not weapons.
That sounds like a basic skeleton to me. I would think a cow could get away from a skeleton without trouble... maybe it was sleeping? Still, a skeleton is not so powerful as to kill a cow in one blow. Something doesn't make sense here... and we have yet to uncover a motive for this." The Elf pauses momentarily, lost in thought.
With a sudden intake of breath, Ximix continues, "There is no evidence of a cult, or other power behind this attack, for all we know Richards' attack may be completely unrelated, though this seems unlikely...
Also, the ground around the location Richard was found was disturbed... this could be a clue but if there was an undead involved why did it not kill Richard? Perhaps we can investigate that area more, dig deeper and such?" Again, a small pause, then forging ahead, the priest launches into still more discourse,
"Now then, Richards' description of strange words spoken and unnatural darkness suggest a spell or spells was cast upon him. This suggests a dark priest or necromancer... but no further evidence so far.
"Here is what Richard said of his attack, now correct me if I am out of line, yet my memory is fairly accurate." At this point the Elf's normally high voice gets somewhat lower in a fair attempt to mimic Richard's deeper human tones.
"I remember being out, marking a line, then, oh what is it? I am not really sure. I do remember screaming. No, not screaming, it started with voices, many of them, moaning, maybe saying something that I couldn't understand, and then in a moment they all changed, they were shrieking or shouting something."
and
"Actually, I think I did see somesomething. I am not sure, but as I heard the voices it seems like I was surrounded by darkness. It surrounded me in ribbons; crackling and wiggling."
and
"You know, I think I heard something russle leaves just before I saw the darkness." Richard again takes on a contemplative look, "but, I don't remember seeing or hearing anything else."
The Elf looks about quickly, assessing the reaction to his words, then continues once more,
"I propose that we ask all involved and around the area about anything to do with disturbed graves or old cults, or temples in the area. Also we should ask about any strangers in the area, particularly those that may have asked about graves, cults, temples or been seen around graves.
"I believe that we are capable of handling this, that all we need to do is find out what it was that Richard was doing that led someone to feel the need to attack him. Along with the other clues we should be able to find the attacker.
Between Razin and Manon we should be able to handle a skirmish, I have healing and am a decent shot with a bow for backup.
What say you?"
OOC: Sorry, this post took me a bit to work through, didn't see what you'd posted. How shall we handle this? More warm bodies will only help if we know what we're doing . . . so far, we're totally lost. Though if Manon is going to go, then I propose that Ximix and Razin follow my line of thought and start questioning the locals while Manon is gone so that when he returns we'll have more to go on with the additional manpower.
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