The Missing Smithson
Lord Vander Smithson, a Khazahd of some known within certain circles, has gone missing. He is a member of the Adventurer's guild and on the council that governs its general direction - and is still known to go off on an adventure here and there even if he's well into his years. The boisterous man was last see headed out over the ocean toward Veyshan and then into the desert - passing through Fort Banded - before disappearing. His last known word was near the Fort:
I found it! I finally found it! The tales are true, and now I know where to find the proof the Khazad were in Veyshan too!
And that was it before all communication from him stopped. The call was put out in the guild, you were gathered up, and then it was off and over the ocean to Veyshan and the fort beyond. It wasn't too difficult to get out that far, but when you do your reception is less than warm (it's not a desert pun! HONEST!)
As you enter the gates into Fort Banded you can feel the glares of the people. Tensions are running high and they seem to be directed /squarely/ at you all. A muttering word "Adventurers" and the look of scorn to follow it.
Mal'thael glares right back at the people in Fort Banded. He doesn't look too impressed at the moment. His Hyena lets out a couple of hoos at some of the passers-by as it walks with Mal'thael. This is too big to be a normal Hyena...
Walery is used to the unfriendly glares of strangers. He's an Artificer, and above them anyhow. But he's not used to the hostility towards adventurers in general. "Things are a bit odd, do you think?" he wonders quietly to his associates.
Xasany glances around nervously at the people who stare so scornfully. "Sounds like we are unwelcome.", the Gnome says quietly to Walery. "Let's go and find the Captain, so that we can get on with why we're here." She reaches up a hand reassuringly to the small, grey owl perched upon her shoulders. "Whooo.", it says softly.
Lions and tigers and bears and giant hyenas, and Mittens, she's got a pig. It's not even an exotic super dire pig from a magic faraway land, but a fairly regular looking porker that wouldn't be out of place on any old farm. Given the heat, her pig has at some point had a nice cooling wallow and is now completely covered in a layer of grey, sun baked mud, that cracks and flakes off as he trots along. On his back, heedless of the dirt, is the halfing witch, shaded under a giantnormous (for her) brimmed conical hat. If she notices the whispers of disdain, she doesn't seem put out by them, she merely raises a hand and waves, calling, "Greetings friends!"
Urso makes his way in through the gates, the muted jingle of chain over his gambeson accompanying the clocking of his leather bootheels on the stones. He looks to the man who mutters of adventurers and bows his head slightly, "I am a servant of Daeus first, goodsir. I am simply here to help, answer the call for assistance." His deep voice is mellow enough and deferential to the man. He glances around at the others gathered here, looking over their gear and persons.
"Nobody called for you!" The man says back out to Urso with some level of heat rivaling the morning sun out in Veyshan. One of his friends grabs the man by the shoulder and pulls him back, drawing him over toward the stables. They both shoot dirty glances at Urso though.
No one blocks your way to the center of the fort where the Captain surely is if you wish to continue onward and ask him questions.
Though a few people give a chuckle at Mittens, and she even gets a wave back from a particularly short human child who yanks on his mother's skirts and points toward her "Can I ride next?!" he asks, clearly thinking that Mittens is some sort of attraction new to the fort. The Lady shoots Mittens a glare and tries to shuffle her son away, "Don't even dream about touching something that dirty, Gary."
Walery agrees with Xasany about finding the Captain. He says to the glaring folks, "Where do we find your Captain?" But it looks like we're working it out for ourselves. "Er, actually," he says to the argiung man, "We -were- called for. Otherwise we wouldn't be here."
Xasany sniffs at the man stating that the adventurers were not called, and shakes her head. "So rude." She glances to Walery and nods. The Gnomish woman points towards the middle of the fort, where it soon becomes obvious that it is the hub of activity. "Probably the Captain is in there, unless he's off on some patrol or command visity." She glances at Mittens a moment, and grins. "Your familiar gets all the attention, Mitty."
Urso dismisses the rudeness of the man with a slight shrug of his shoulder. Instead he moves in the general group of other adventurers that have gathered as they begin moving around and asking questions. He's worked enough spare guard shifts at other strongholds apparently for his measured steps begin to carry him toward the center of the fort, though he moves at a stately enough pace. He pauses if he hears an interesting tidbit of information however, turning to inspect the nearest cart or weapons rack if any be handy.
Mal'Thael rolls his eyes at the people glaring at him. he's not even worried....nor is the Hyena it seems. He just walks his way towards the barracks...as his Hyena seems to be sniffing the ground on the way there. If the guards block his way, he just shrugs. "I heard that the captain needs some help...."
"It's because he's a very handsome boy." Mittens says of her pig, explaining to the other witch why he gets all the attention. Her eyes crinkle like she's grinning like a loon, but she's got the bottom half of her face all wrapped up in a scarf, as usual so it's hard to tell. She scrunchy finger waves after Gary, even if he's not allowed to talk to her anymore on account of her being so dirty, but she's still not offended. She is dirty. "Bye!" She calls after them, her voice a cheery squeaky singsong. With that, she looks to the rest of the adventurers and gets focused on the task at hand. Well, briefly, then she's mildly complaining, "Xasy, it's so hot here. Why is the sun so big?"
More than one person shies away from the overly large hyena, and a couple people even mutter about Thul's monstrosities. It doesn't seem like Mal'Thael's companion is netting them any favors either. Soon you do reach the fort, though there is a pointed request for the hyena to stay outside (not really that surprising considering its size) and the rest of you are escorted in.
You happen upon the Captain in the middle of a conversation with a Veyshan man in flowing silks of rich color and obvious wealth. He's in the middle of gesturing when your presence is announced and he shoots a glare to the five of you and both stop mid conversation. The richy dressed man speaks with scorn "Adventurers. I should've known Alexandria would send more of your /ilk/ out this way. So brazenly striding in uninvited after all that your type has caused."
Captain Renald puts a hand out, stopping the other man from continuing as he looks over the rest of you, a nod of his head, "I thought we might see more of you." His voice lacks the contempt of the other man, "This is Ah'hajiit Ibn'Kahlandor of the Yah-shta Consortium. We've been discussing the troubles facing the fort caused by your organization. You see, Lord Vander Smithson came through, gathered some supplies, and set off for an expedition and - well - he thoroughly angered the Gobber tribes in the jungles. Now they're actively raiding."
The Captain looks back toward Ah'hajiit, as he continues, "We were just discussing how the Consortium may help repair the damages inflicted by your Guild to the fort and the reputation with the Gobbers. If you please, state your business and why you think I should allow you to even so much as stay within the fort's walls."
Urso steps to the fore and resting his wrist easily over the hilt of his shortsword he says, "Forgive me Captain, but can the entire organization be dunned for one man's actions? Would it not be more wise to judge people by their own actions instead of damning us simply by association?" his tone is polite enough, but there is a firmness to his words. He isn't begging forgiveness for being an 'adventurer', simply making his point. He glances at the Veyshan and says, "You have my regrets for any importunity to your people, but we are here to investigate this matter."
Xasany moves closer to her pig-riding associate, and grins up at MIttens. "Mitty, we're in the desert now. It is to the south of where we were, closer to the middle of the world. The seasons are less distinct, and so the sun shines all the time. That is why it is so warm. But don't fret, at night it gets colder than you might expect. You will still appreciate a warm fire." The Gnomish woman looks around at their other associates, and glances back to Mittens. "I think I regret wearing black. And for wearing stockings instead of pants." She goes quiet as the group comes into the presence of the Captain and the Veyshan man. The situation doesn't seem good. The Gnome rubs her cheek.
"We do not need trouble you to stay within your walls, Captain. We would see, ourselves, to mending what was broken, and seeking out our friend, and the source of the Goblin's unrest.", Xasany says. She looks to Urso as he speaks, and then continues. "Lord Smithson was a man of good standing. I, for one, do not believe he would have intentionally done damage. Please allow us to make things right."
Walery salutes the Captain. He's not in any military group other than his own sort of wannabe style organization, but he figures captains like being saluted. And it may annoy the local, which he's ok with. "If you would like us to pacify the goblins, that will cost extra," he points out. "We are here first for the Guild, of course, but we kill almost anyone for pay." He sounds so cheerful as he says it, too.
Mittens has definitely not been to a desert before and might be equally regretting some of her fashion choices. There's a soft 'oh' from her as Xasany educates her, and when they reach the office, she rides on in, still on piggyback, but doing her best to appear regal and stately, and stuff. The pig also has a proud step to his trot, chin up, oinker forward. He's such a handsome boy. That said, the halfling keeps as out of the way as she can, watching and listening as the situation is revealed, one hand pushing up on the brim of her hat so she can see clearly. Once she's parked next to the gnome, she has a long stare at the Captain, as though she's smitten. She doesn't say anything though, since everyone else seems to have that well handled.
The Captain looks over the four of you, even down to look at the regal Mittens with a raise of an eyebrow, before turning back away and up to listen to the points at hand. "Well-" He looks toward Walery, "-I'm not paying you to mend what your organization broke, and-" he gestures toward Xasany, "-as was said, you are looking for information on your friend." He crosses his arms, looking back toward Ah'hajiit for a moment, then to the adventurers again. "I will only entertain questions regarding Lord Smithson once I'm assured that providing you information will not further endanger the people of the fort."
The Captain holds a hand up toward Ah'hajiit, silencing his rebuttal that was already growing. Ah'hajiit glares at the four of you.
GAME: Mittens rolls knowledge/nature: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL)
"Jungle Gobbers are afraid of sand because it's far too dry and it hurts their skin, so it's probably gnolls that are involved and we can trick them with fast gestures and bright colors." Mittens announces as if that totally proves they know what they're doing. Why? Why, Mittens, why?! It must have made more sense in her head, or she read it from a book, not realizing it was grossly and fantastically wrong in every possible way possible. Still, she looks proud of herself.
Urso crosses his arms and settles his stance. "What assurances can we give you good Captain, other than our word that we will do our best to find out what happened? Doing so might cause some issue with any that oppose us, and may well lead to damage. Attempting not to damage something may be sworn, but if it comes to swinging a blade, life always comes first Captain." he lowers his voice and speaks to him as as one might address a peer, "You should know that better than most sirrah."
Xasany blinks and stares up at MIttens. And hangs her head, pinching at her nose between her eyes. "Oh Mittanya.", she says. Not that Urso is any better. "What? You can't go around using that word. Yeesh." Her owl echoes her tone with a firm whooo.
Walery looks to the Captain, and says, "You may rest assured of this: We, as representatives of the Adventurers Guild of Alexandria, will do out utmost to find and rescue Lord Smithson. We can do it with your aid, and in as gentle a way as we can. Or we can play it the Alexandrian way and attack everything in sight, stir up the goblins til they're boiling mad, and if we're killed, the Guild will send in even more savage Adventurers. So, sir, it behooves you to help us, and we, in turn, can help you."
The Hyena lets out a couple of hoos and woofs as it comes in before Mal'thael. "Miss much? Guards wouldn't let us through." The Hyena seems a little distracted with scents.....
Ah'hajiit Ibn'Kahlandor looks more annoyed by the second, the fact that Mittens doesn't seem to grasp the nuances only makes him sneer all the more. "Your Khazad friend proclaimed an intimate understanding. If this is really what that means, it's no wonder the gobbers are attacking. Dozens of us dead in his wake, dozens more missing, and the gobbers attacking our mining operations with the people living in fear of the next raid. Pah! Captain, with all due respect, don't let them further worsen the situation."
The Captain looks to Ah'hajiit again, a nod and then he holds up his hand, trying to quiet the man once more, "Please, I know they might not understand the people in the area like you, but that doesn't mean they will make it worse." He looks toward Walery, giving a nod of his head as if he seems to take these words as a means to settle that he shouldn't flat out dismiss you all quite yet.
He nods his head toward Urso next, "Okay, fair enough point then. Alright - if you claim to be as proficient as you say - Lord Smithson was a well-read and knowledgeable man, yet when he disappeared into the unless he caused real damage with the tribes. How is your expedition any different? You say you have the necessary strength to survive where others cannot - let me see. Show me that those weapons and spellbooks you carry are not for show?"
Mal'Thael sighs and rolls his eyes.....then looks out the door. Notes it's a desert down. "bring me a bucket...."
"But," Mittens begins, reaching into the satchel at her hip as if she can prove her outlandish assertions to either Ah'hajiit or Xasany. After a little rooting she comes up with what would be a pocket book to regular folk, but looks normal sized in her little hands. She holds it out to the other witch, like, see? The title is: A New Adventurer's Guide to Arcania, by Sir Dirk Tiddlers. It does not look very legit. Well read and dog eared, yes, but a source of true knowledge? Doubtful. Even so, she flips through the pages and starts to read under her breath, "...jungle gobbers... known to attack potatoes on sight... worship rocks... wear tight pants... favor sticks and unripened melons as weapons..." Her brow furrows with concentration, but where was the part about the sand and the gnolls? She can't seem to find that at all.
GAME: You award the following players XP for being online:
Mittens
Urso glances at the Captain and shakes his head slightly. "Always with proof." he grabs the haft of his greataxe and pulls it to ready. "Who would like to spar?" He glances around at the others in the fortress moving about their business. "You ask us not to damage anything, then you ask us to display our armaments...Daeus, make up your mind!"
GAME: Xasany rolls 6: (5)+6: 11
Xasany lets out a sigh and shakes her head. "Captain, first you demand that we're not going to make things worse. Then you ask us to prove that our weapons and spellbooks aren't for show. As this... guy here says, make up your mind, sir." She spits out a word that skitters off somewhere along the floor, and her hair suddenly comes alive. Many strands of it reach out and wrap themselves around the Captain. For a moment, nothing else moves... and then the Capgain is lifted from his feet, and held a few feet from the ground. "Is this convincing enough? Or shall I pull a little and see where you split?" Her face goes sullen then, and the Captain is gently returned to the ground. Her hair disentangles itself, and moves to hover behind her, strands of it appearing to look here and there, looking for danger.
Walery hefts his death ray, and he's looking around for something to shoot. He eyes the open window, shoulders his weapon, and snaps off a shot at an archery target outside. It ... might or might not hit the target tap dead center, but it doesn't matter because the bolt is raw fire, and the straw target starts burning urgently, and within half a minute, the small target is entirely consumed. He shoulders his weapon and turns to the captain smugly.
"Because I want to ensure that if you /do/ cause problems that at least you will take some of them out along the way?" The Captain says, shooting a look to Urso with some annoyance finally starting to turn into his words. He's been impartial, but the outright questioning of his requests seems to be turning him away from the Adventurer's side. With Xasany mimicking the words he turns the look toward her as well with that look that says thin ice is to be had. He crosses his arms and then lets out a sound of shock as he's lifted.
Once he's set back down, the look out the window and he sees the target smouldering as well - a target none-too-close. He gives a nod and what damage their words of questioning have done seems to have been undone by the actions soon after. He gives another nod and gives a look toward Mittens, his mouth twitching just a hint into a smile.
"Is this supposed to impress us?" Ah'hajiit says, glaring at the adventurers and trying to dismiss the display of power. "Come now, Captain, you know that this situation can't be solved through such power. This whole situation will get worse if they simply start destroying things within the jungle." He lets out a snort - annoyed.
The Captain lets out a sigh, and holds his hand up toward the Veyshan man again, silencing him, "Come now, I asked, but this does lead me to the next. Can I trust you all to handle this situation with a level head and a delicate touch when necessary?"
GAME: Urso rolls diplomacy: (7)+10: 17
The large bearded warrior-priest appears to have finally begun to lose the patient tone to Urso's words, an undercurrent of tension limning his words in an almost palpable rime of frost. "Captain. It is our duty to take care of a situation caused by one of our members. You let this pompous ass at your side determine the safety of this fortification because /he/ can not see the need for people with our abilities. I assure you Captain, though we are duty bound to perform this task, should you again question our motives or abilities, that will break covenant with both the guild and us. A broken covenant will release us from our duty and free you up to deal with this situation." he slides his frosty gaze toward the rich man standing beside the captain. "Yourself." he lets the now-free greataxe slide to the ground to emphasize the weight of this statement as he silently awaits the decision of the Captain.
"Dislike cold mud baths... superstitious about spiders... refuse to wear hats..." Mittens continues reading to herself from the New Adventurer's guide, until the Captain is crazy hair yoinked into the air and Walery sets fire to a straw target outside. Both events are equally shocking to the little halfling who was not paying attention. Not even a little. She reaches for a weapon, thinking a war has broken out, perhaps, but has nothing but a gnarly stick with a fan-like end of crooked branches she brought along, mostly to swat a flies with. She waves it, menacingly, until she figures out that it's all been for show. Urso's speech is listened to then, but it's unclear what she thinks of it. The pig oinks though.
Xasany blinks at Mittens for a moment, "Are you alright, Mitty? Getting lost in that book, hmm?" The Gnome grins and rubs at her forehead. "Er, and cold mud baths sound horrible. If anything, they should be warm." She casts a glance at Ah'hajiit, and then looks back to Mittens. "I get the feeling that this is going to be harder than they promised back at the Guild."
Walery ahems and says sourly, "Captain. We apologize for wasting your time. You have no interest in helping us, and frankly, given your attitude, we have no interest in helping you. We have tried to meet your requirements, but each time, you push the bar further. Since you will not help us, we will take our leave and continue our mission without your aid. And with no regard for your situation." He says to the others, "I think we are finished here. Let us go." He'll snap an about face and turn to leave.
The Captain glances back toward Urso, "On the contrary, I have no let anyone dictate my choices but instead have listened to you openly. I could dismiss you and take the Consortium's help. They've been trying to petition me for months to help secure this fort. I'm beginning to see that it might be best to inform Veyshan that our treaties with Alexandria for trade and adventurer's may have been well misplaced if this is how adventurer's handle diplomatic situations ." He crosses his arms, looking to the warrior-priest without the hint of worry in his eyes, "Either way, you speak well enough."
The Veyshan man leans in again - the serpent to the ear- "Captain, I implore you. See how they act? These adventurers will just make things worse. For the sake of the people in the Fort, have them escorted back to the port - force them out of Veyshan this is not the place for their type anymore. I assure you that the Consortium will look for their lost member after /we/ secure the area."
Rayald looks to Walery then, a raise of an eyebrow, "Requesting that I see you are able to handle yourselves and taking an impartial ear to you is an attitude?" His mouth pushes up, an arch to his brows, "Hm, I will have to reprimand many a person in the future of this then."
The Captain looks toward Ah'hajiit again soon after. A frown, as he seems to be weigh the entire situation. Thankfully the adventurers have made some sort of positive impact on him, and when he looks back to them he spreads his hands. "Well? What am I to do with you five?" He looks toward the oinking pig, and he gives a little furrow to a brow and a bit of a smirk.
GAME: Mittens rolls diplomacy+3: (9)+3+3: 15
GAME: Urso rolls diplomacy: (8)+10: 18
"Warm mud is the best." Mittens enthuses, very much in agreement and sounding chipper, so she must be just fine. She even lowers her fly swatter and nods a few times to Xasany. Everything is a-okay. Except of course this rocky situation and the ever looming possibility of being frog marched to the port and expelled from the country entirely. That's troubling. The New Adventurer's guide is set carefully between her knees, left open to the jungle gobber section, and she slowly raises her hand. "Pardon me, sirs. We've all had a very long journey to reach this place, and we would like to help. We may not be the best, or most capable, or know everything, and, my pig is very dirty, but we make no excuses and we'll find our man and not make things worse, because we're adventurers and adventure is what we do. Or want to, this is really my first adventure, but I've studied a lot and I don't want to wreck your town at all. It seems nice." She looks to Urso at that point, since he seemed to have the better, if more aggressive rapport going with the Captain.
Urso leans on the haft of his greataxe and nods to Mitten's words. "Captain, let us not dally over past irritants. We are here. We are willing to do the work and promise to do our best not to cause any more damage than absolutely necessary. If you look to the Consortium for help, it could be weeks...or more, before they deign to send someone to this outpost. We are here to help. Let us help?"
Xasany pinches at her nose again. "Mitty, you need to work on your timing.", she says quietly. The Gnomish woman looks to the Captain. "Why not both? I am sure the Consortium would like to help out and prove itself in some way. If your Fort has been damaged, surely they may assist in rebuilding? If they have soldiers, they can protect people from goblin raids. This would give us time to investigate the goblins, and our missing friend, and hopefully resolve the matter. The Consortium proves itself worthy, we tidy up a mess that appears to be ours, and you get both groups out of your hair afterwords. Win-win-win, yes?"
Walery turns back and grumbles at the Captain. "Impartial? I've met more impartial /bandits/." He hrmphs. "We come to help and I've got to waste rare ingredients to show him what we can do, and they just talk garbage," he mutters to himself. "The fact of the matter, sir," says Walery to the Captain, "is that the Guild sent us because they didn't think there was any serious threat to speak of. We're all of us fairly new to adventuring. But the Guild sent us because /they/ think we can get Lord Smithson back. They wouldn't pay us to travel here if they didn't." And then he does about face and march out of the office. He'll start looking, himself. Not that he has any reasonable skill for that. But he's got a death ray, so there's that.
The Captain gives a nod, looking to Mittens as he gives a stroke of his chin, "I don't really know what Warm mud has to do with anything, to be honest, but you do make a point that you have traveled quite far. And, truthfully, I've seen even the most inexperienced rise to the occasion with the right circumstances. You speak well little one."
And then Urso, another nod and he gives the hint of a smile, "Now that is what I would think of when it comes to an adventurer. Well said, and well meant. I see your point and-" he looks toward Ah'hajiit, "-it's a fair point. The Consortium at times /does/ take its time and tends only towardits own interest."
The Veyshan man scoffs and throws up his hands. "Most unfortunate." He starts stomping off out of the office, Ah'hajiit still speaking as he does, "You are making a grave mistake trusting these glorified tomb robbers. They will fail and, when they do, my agreement will still stand - though we /may/ have to alter our deal if /they/ make it worse."
The Captain looks after the man, pauses, then turns back to the Adventurers. "It is to be understood, if you start trouble, I need you to finish it out there, but either way - you are welcome to stay here if you like with my blessing. I'll send for the scouts and have the maps drawn up based on their information." He looks toward Walery as he starts out of the office, a bit of a wry smile revealing itself.
Urso nods to the Captain and says, "I think we should probably take our leave of you then sirrah. You have a fortification to run and we have preparations to make. Please send word when you have the maps." he glances about at the others and says, "We should grab a hot meal while we're here. No telling how long it will be before we're able to enjoy one again." He picks up his greataxe and hangs it back on its harness behind his back, haft sticking out above his shoulder.
Mal'Thael says, "Some of us have more than our own interests in this, Captain." He then takes the captain's hand and....places a berry in it, chuckling. "give it a try. you'll be surprised.""
Xasany nods at Urso's suggestion of getting the hell out of there, and she offers the captain a wave. "We'll get out of your hair then, Captain. And we'll be ready to go once your scouts have returned, and the information collected." She turns to follow the others, once the others are ready to go. "Not our finest hour.", the Gnomish woman says, quietly.
Mittens can't really curtsey since she's sitting atop a very filthy pig, but, she gives the impression of doing so with a bow of her head. "Thank you, kind Captain." With Urso having put the diplomatic icing on her word cake, she grins, reaches out and pilots her oinker back out of the office by pulling on his ears. "You just have to be nice to people." She explains to the party, then grins in particular at Xasany. "You had the him in your hair though."
The Captain looks at the berry, mumbles, "Hm, Goodberry." Then pops it in his mouth and eats it, a nod toward Mal'Thael. Seems the Captain knew what it was and appreciated it. She looks toward Xasany and Urso, "There's a few places in town that serve hot meals, but generally they wait till later in the day. There's a stew shop down the way, they have been serving from the same pot for the last twenty years. Not bad, and they're usually open all the time. Should only take a few hours."
The Captain gives a sort of half-bow to Mittens in return and then turns toward his desk where he begins to write out orders to accomplish just as he had promised. He adds to the retreating adventurers, "I can tell you that he was last seen heading west. Saw him myself, I hope you find him alive and well." And then he's focused on his writing again.
A couple hours later, as promised, the Captain calls you all back and provides a map that outlines the surrounding area. There's a number of landmarks marked, but the one that's most important is a circles spot on the map marked "Mining Camp". Based on the scale provided it'll take some time to get there - either two or three days by your count.
Traveling by day will make it easier and you can't get lost, but the heat can sap your strength. Traveling by night will save you from the heat, but it will be harder to follow the landmarks.
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d2+1: (1)+1: 2
GAME: Mittens rolls survival: (4)+3: 7
GAME: Urso rolls survival: (5)+2: 7
GAME: Xasany rolls survival: (16)+2: 18
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls survival: (8)+13: 21
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d20+5: (8)+5: 13
GAME: Walery rolls survival: (6)+1: 7
The night passes uneventful. It's dark, but with Mal'Thael and Xasany leading the way, you have no issues finding your way through using the map and the landmarks. After your night long journey you finally come up to the marker on the map for the mining camp. Hexagonal basalt columns that are marred by the lines of mining tools are present all aong the line of the gorge. The floor of it a pathwork of scrub grass and leafless vegetation that appears to have been frequently trafficked.
All over the bottom are the corpses of laborers rent limb from limb and laying amidst the camp's wreckage. Dried blood darkens the rocks and several banners fly the colors of Veyshan. This mining camp seems to have been sacked and from the look of it, nearly a week before. The stench of death is nigh overwhelming.
Xasany blinks at the carnage, and shakes her head. "There is no way... how many gobbers are there, that they can lay waste to an operation such as this." She looks around. "Surely some escaped, somewhere?" The Gnome rubs at her temples. "This is highly suspicious."
Urso speaks in a low voice as he breaks through the underbrush, "All I'm saying is that I feel that the client needs to know that they are contracting us. They should be responsible for ensuring that a team sent to cleanup the mess be treated as if we weren't vagrant hob..." he trails off and stops for a moment, his hand going within his cloak and pulling out a holy symbol, "Daeus take mercy." his lips begin to move in a silent prayer as he grabs the handle of his greataxe with his free hand.
Mal'thael rubs his nose as he looks around. "Well then." he then looks to Xasany. "To say the least. Weren't the workers from the city?"
Mittens clamps a hand over her face, making sure the scarf is firmly held to her nose and mouth to keep the rank stink out. She doesn't say anything, because then she'd have to breath and she'd prefer not to. She'll just slowly turn blue and urge the pig she's still riding, to go upwind of the pit of corpses.
GAME: Urso rolls perception: (13)+2: 15
Walery gasps at the sight. And the smell. "Awful," he says with a wince." As to survivors, he asks, "Maybe one of you trackers can find some tracks leaving the area?" He, himself, has his death ray at the ready.
The large bearded man hunkers down just at the edge of the brushline and whispers a 'Hsssst'. He points across the way at something that he sees moving in the early morning light. He mutters, "Something moving over there. Prepare yourselves." he begins to quickly gird up his cloak around his thighs and arms with a thong of leather from a belt pouch. Urso continues to mouth silent prayers as he readies himself for battle.
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls perception: (14)+9: 23
GAME: Walery rolls perception: (20)+7: 27
GAME: Xasany rolls Perception: (20)+4: 24
GAME: Mittens rolls perception: (4)+4: 8
Xasany wrinkles her nose, and points roughly where Urso did. "Undead. Zombie.", she says quietly. "I can't tell if there are more, but there's at least one." She pulls her quarterstaff in close, and nudges the small, grey owl on her shoulder. "Go on up into one of the trees. Stay safe. Watch for danger."
Walery has shouldered his death ray, tutning to track a noise he heard. "I ... I think there's some scavenger here," he tells the others. A zombie? "Uhhhhh."
"That explains a few things. it's a zombie." Mal'thael says rather calmly. His Hyena.....displays his full intentions as he lowers himself a bit...his hackles raise up and he begins to growl and snarl......loudly....
Walery adds, "No wait, there's something else, too. I see the zombie you mean, now."
"There's a what?" Mittens asks, but she realizes her mistake almost immediately. She opened her mouth and stink got in. Her hand clamps down harder and her eyes start watering. It's more her pig, than her that steers her away from the rustling since he has a sense of preservation.
As the hyena growls and, undoubtedly begins to cackle in that laugh hyenas make when threatening creatures, it becomes clear that there is more than just a zombie there. The zombie does turn to look, another rising up next to it, but off to the side there's a low crouched creature. Spines running down its back and its jaws covered in gore - its eyes black and soulless. The creature opens its mouth, the jaw opening so wide it looks like it can unhinge like a snake's and lets out a yelled noise that would shake any normal person, broken and high-pitched.
Almost immediately after that yell you hear it. From the far side of the gorge there's pounding now against a door that has a collapsed scaffolding against it. Pounding and shouts, though it's too far away to make out.