[LPF] Ryall's Estate

[jbear]

Relic stops pushing the cart for a moment to catch his breath. He shades his eyes from the sun and squints trying to bring his blurry eyes into focus.

Is that the tops of houses he sees in the distance? Are they finally drawing within sight of town. With a shrug he takes up his place at the cart again and continues to push, dismissing his vision as wishful thinking or a trick of the light.

 

[jkason]

Through both magical and mundane means, the party does its best to clean and preserve the bodies before finally making their way down the road. The four men each take a corner, pushing and pulling the wagon over the unpaved, bumpy road as Kazanto slithers along at about the same pace.

It's an interminably long day, as the group yanks and shoves, stumbling here and there in a divot. At least twice they have to stop and wrangle the cart back into position on the road after it's managed to veer the wrong direction or get caught in a larger than normal hole in the road. The sun beats down through the overhang, carrion birds circling above in a thickening cloud. The road itself isn't well-traveled, but those few souls who pass by cover their noses and move quickly by, at least one turning tail before he even reaches the overtaxed group.

Hours seem like days, but eventually Relic (of all people) catches sight of one of the higher buildings in Venza. They're within reach of their goal when the sound of hoofbeats on cobbles comes to their ears. Turning a bend, the party can see the beginnings of the paving that leads to Venza. They also see the source of the hoofbeats: a small Venzan patrol blocking the road. The leader glares down at you and barks out a command:

"We've had reports of a group carting corpses into town," he says, then wrinkles his nose. "Thought it was old Horace on the sauce again, but from the smell of it, he's right. You'll be explaining yourselves, and quickly."

GM: yesterday was me catching up with work. Sorry for the extra day's delay, but thanks to all for patience and RP with the downtime!

 

[Qik]

OOC: Welcome back, jk.

More than a little irritable after their long trek into town, Quioan couldn't help but speak in an exasperated tone to patrolman who had spoken to them. "We were hired by one of the men here to investigate the disappearance of his house, which seems to have been stolen by magical means. The folks at the Dunn Wright Inn can attest to this. We were in pursuit of the one who was responsible when our employer, and another who had also been victim to this crime, turned back. After losing the trail, we decided to make our way back into town and confront one of the Great Houses which seems to be connected to the thefts. We found the cart and the bodies of these two along the road."

Wiping sweat from his brow, Quioan relaxed a bit, and, realizing this story would sound unusual at best to the man, added, "I understand this is quite a story; we'll demonstrate its truth as best we can."

 

[Systole]

Daylily stands up and wipes the perspiration from his eyes. Miles ago, he removed his furs and tossed them into the wagon, and walks forward to meet the guardsmen in little more than his boots and a sweat-soaked loincloth, the cleanliness of which does not bear thinking about.

He points proudly to the contents of the wagon. "Is evidence! While we was in forest killing some wolfs, different wolf kill the farmer-mans. Then wolf eats the pork, but nots the peoples. Thens wolf is steal horse, so is either smart wolf or maybe talker to forest spirit. Also, we was attack by bird and rat with easy-carry handle. Now we is keep all the meats, for the eating later."

OOC: Welcome back. Daylily probably dropped all his gear on the front seat during the push. Just FYI, in case the guardsmen decide they need to take a rancid, half-naked barbarian into custody or we're attacked by more wildlife.

 

[InVinoVeritas]

"Hello, captain!" replies Kazanto brightly. "You've heard the story right. We came across these two unfortunate souls and thought it best that they are given a proper funeral. They were good people, and we hope to figure out who was so bad as to kill them."

She cocks her head with a smile. "What is the best thing to be done with them? I heard a rumor that you dig a hole and cover them with dirt. I'm new here, I figure you would know what's the best thing to do, captain."

 

[jkason]

The commander visibly rankles at Quioan's tone, but between his shock at the childlike pride in the filthy-and-nearly-naked barbarian, and the naive earnestness of the merfolk, he finds himself at a loss. He opens his mouth to speak twice before, finally, he shrugs.

"With all the adventurers in town, can't say your story's so far-fetched, but fact is I can't have you carting a pair of half-covered, rotting corpses through the middle of Venza and up to the door of House. I can leave two of my men here to guard the bodies while we send for the undertaker and you come with me to file a report." he glances again at Daylily and adds, "And clean up.

"That'll give me time to send someone to the Dunn Wright to check the front end of your story, then we can deal with what proof you have to be accusing Venzan nobles."

 

[Qik]

Annoyed at the diversion from their task, but seeing little alternative, Quioan relents. "Fine. Hopefully we can resolve this matter with haste so that we can continue on our task of avenging the deaths of these two."

 

[jbear]

Oh Bless you Commander! May the Wind blow soft at your back! I think my old bones are about collapse into a heap on the ground. I can't feel my arms ... my legs are jelly, dust stings my eyes and chokes at my throat, my heart beats like it is trying to escape its white cage. You have saved my from a most inglorious death! Your suggestion is both wise and good! Please lead the way, we'd be happy to accompany you!

Relic hauls on his pack and takes up his staff with a grunt, waiting eagerly to leave the heavy cart and rancid stench behind him.

 

[jkason]

GM: Giving a bit more time for [MENTION=93930]Systole[/MENTION] , [MENTION=41485]InVinoVeritas[/MENTION] , and [MENTION=6666944]maquise[/MENTION] to chime in if they don't like the commander's plan

 

[Systole]

Daylily looks indignant. "Clean up ... like bath? I no want bath! Bath is not the hygeine. Bath is take away natural body humors and making people to be sick!" With a huff, he retrieves his belongings from the front seat of the wagon.

Seeing the wolf carcasses, a shadow of suspicion crosses his face.

[sblock=Elvish]"Aye, Scorchsong, d'ye ken our kills'll be safe around these high-and-mighty beef willies here? I dinna reckon I trust this lot of ponces not to abscond with the spoils once our backs have turned. I'm not fair attached to the meat, but those wolves are bearing some fine pelts and I've no want to lose them. Especially not with Hlaalen so quick to roast everything with those foul concoctions of his -- further pelts might be hard to come by."[/sblock]