Man in the Road Becomes Corpse in the Road
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
With the utmost caution, the Rennik, Mission, and Garyth move to the top of the hill. It would be an extremely long shot to fire from here (100 yards), but it is an excellent defensive position should an ambush emerge.
A moment later, Jack the Weasel scurries past and slips into the underbrush. Tense moments tick past, but eventually Jack pops out onto the trail just a few feet from the man. He moves closer, and sniffs. The man rolls over just a bit at Jack's approach, but makes no aggressive moves. In fact, now that he has rolled over, the three on top of the hill can see that he is clutching his stomach with both hands.
When Jack is satisfied, he runs back into the underbrush and comes out a few moments later near Farron.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
Not that Sa'id can see this, but if/when he is informed...
1) Is the man a member of Elise's party?
2) If so, I'm curious as to whether he could have been poisoned/infected by something they ate in the farmhouse.
So. If/when Sa'id gets the situation explained, he will fish out any material components required to cast Detect Poison and have the spell ready.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
Rennik is unconvinced, though many of his fears of ambush are allayed. The man is alive, so he could indeed be alone. He moves quietly to his right to speak with Garyth.
"The man appears wounded, but I still stress caution. We have a very defensible position here, and I think we should use it. If one of our group were to walk down openly, in plain sight, I could shadow them from the underbrush.
"Were something to happen, the bait could turn and run for the hill crest, leading any pursuers to an ambush of our own, while I could cover his retreat. Were nothing to happen, he could check on the man and wave the rest forward.
"I wouldn't want to tell anyone to stick their neck out, but if you agree I will speak with Brother Cadfael - he is the most heavily armored and also most able to care for the man. If no one will volunteer, I will go alone."
Rennik will wait for Garyth's response then scurry back down to speak with Cadfael.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
So we're waiting for . . .???
From: Matt
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
::scurry, scurry, scurry::
Rennik drops back to fill in the magic types and speak with Cadfael - he'd also try to get any additional info out of Farron.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
Ok.
We are waiting on Farron's info, and Cadfael's reply.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
Once Jack finishes his chattering, Farron tells the group, "Jack says the man seems to be very hurt, possibly dying. He smells a lot of tainted blood." He adds, "If we're quick perhaps we can save him. He may be able to tell us something. If Cadfael is willing, I suggest he see if he is able to save the man. Here, you may want to take some of this, just in case." Farron rummages in his pack and hands Cadfael a sprig of the belladonna. "Careful, though, it still might be a trap."
From: Ty
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
Just waitin' on Cadfael the lawyer now. :)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (2)
Cadfael confidently strides down the hill to the fallen man. As he gets closer, he sees that this man was in fact one of the three that traveled with Elise. Though now, he carries no weapons, and his leather armor is stained with blood.
"What ails you brother?" Cadfael asks of the fallen man, crouching by his side.
With a grimace, the man lifts his head. "A dagger to the belly ails me, an no mistake." He collapses back, writhing in agony.
With a grim look, Cadfael raises his hands and prays. In a few seconds, his hands begin to glow with the warm powerful light of the sun an midday. Laying his hands on the man's belly, he transfers that healing glow. In moments the nasty wound to his stomach stitches closed. In spite of this, the man continues to writhe and moan.
Cadfael asks, "What else ails you? I have healed your wound."
The man spits a bit of blood onto the ground and says, "The bitch wanted to punish me; like as not she'll have poisoned her blade. Save your magics, priest. I've seen her use this poison before on others. The end will be slow and painful, but sure. I've never seen anyone live through it."
Despite his words, he does appear to be in less pain now that the wound is closed, though his color is still poor, and he is wracked periodically with spasms.
When it becomes clear that there is no danger, Cadfael signals to the fighters on the hill that all is clear.
(Dan, I need to know which spell Cadfael would have traded in for a healing spell. Next turn will occur when the party has joined Cadfael near the fallen man.)
From: Raja
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (2)
Once he gets the all-clear and an explanation, Sa'id will run over to the man and cast his readied Detect Poison spell to verify that the man has indeed been poisoned and that his ailment is not of some magical nature.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (2)
Rennik allows the wizards to do their work uninterrupted.
Instead, he uses his skills to have a look at the area around the man, the footprints and hoofprints, to see if he can get a better picture of what happened, if the group is still together, etc. Specifically, he wonders if one has veered away from the group, or if anything was left from the struggle with the man (that may have been dropped, forgotten or kicked under a shrub).
He would try to establish sightlines in case anyone were to come charging up, and keep close eye on anywhere where he (or anyone else for that matter) could take cover.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (2)
At Cadfael's signal, Garyth rushes forward, keeping his arrow nocked though not drawn. He kneels beside the man.
"Why would your own mistress stab you? And what were you doing at that farm?"
From: Dan
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (2)
Cadfael smiles down at the man, "These other men were not likely cradled in the hands of Pelor, as you are now. Rest easy brother, you are sheltered by God now, he will warm your heart, make your body whole and soothe your soul."
With that he calls out to the others, telling them to come forward. There is no danger here, or rather, what danger there is has passed. He then moves aside as Sa'id readies his spell.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (2)
The man coughs again and looks at Garyth. "A guardsman, eh? Tracking us were you?"
He laughs a bit, till the pain makes him stop with a cringe.
"Aye, she stabbed me. Curse me for a fool. Long on sass, short on sense as my dam would say." He stops for a series of painful looking shudders. "I made the mistake of disputing her decision. I guess I'd finally done it one too many times."
He sinks back with a distant and wistful look on his face. "Ah, but I'd have liked to look on the black pillar even just once. To come this far, and die for a foolish word..."
He trails off. His eyes close, but you know he is still alive by his wracking shudders, and by the tears that begin to roll down his cheeks.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (2)
(OOC: I've read every message up until Garyth's "black pillar?" message.)
Sa'id turns to Cadfael: "He is most definitely poisoned, and the toxin is very strong. I cannot tell what manner of poison it is, only that it will almost certainly kill him. I am not even certain that it could be cured at all if I knew what it was."
From: Dan
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (2)
When Garyth's eyes pass over Cadfael, they pause.
He has not moved, but his eyes are alight with fury, face hard and dark.
His left hand grips his shield so tightly that his arm is shaking.
"Weep not for your body, man, weep for the soul you sold. I feel no pity for you, let the poison eat your body for you shall look back on this feeling fondly when your soul screams in agony after you die."
He looks up at Garyth now; face still cold and eyes narrowed in disgust.
"I know not what this... black tower is. But the fetid evil of this man boils off his body and clings to every breath he exhales. May he hurry to his death and rid the world of his filth, I would not stop the poison if I could, he has earned his wound."
"I would guess that his lady, this lady Elise, was once a knight of honour. Once the hand of good. But is now a blasphemer. She has removed all symbols of her God because they now burn her with righteous fire when her gaze falls upon them. Her master must reside in this black tower in the East where it defiles the air around it and blights the land wherever its shadow touches."
"I can stand his presence no longer, I will wait for you further along the road, far enough away that his evil can no longer sully my flesh. Linger not, brothers, you would not want him to leave a stain upon you."
With that, Cadfael turns hard and storms off toward the East.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (2)
Wow.
Excellent post, Dan.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (2)
I just need Scott to check in.
Also, if you have any other actions you wish to take with this man, or any other conversation near or with him, please get them in.
Thanks. :)
From: Raja
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (2)
As Cadfael storms away, Sa'id turns to Farron.
"I have cast a spell of magic detection on the dying rogue. He is enchanted, though it is barely detectable. Shall I use a spell of nullification to remove the enchantment, on the off chance that his poison is magical in nature?"
From: Ty
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (2)
Sa'id turns to confer with Farron. While they are still speaking, Rennik seems to reach some private decision. He rushes over to the dying and grabs him by the collar. He then puts his head right next to the man's ear, and a low growling whisper can be heard. Several times the man shakes his head, followed by more harsh whispers.
Finally, the man feebly tries to push Rennik away and says loudly, "Enough!"
"I've had no loyalty to that bitch, and less now than ever." He stops to swallow and retch a bit.
"But I've no answers for you. We only camped at the farm. She told us not why we were there. She didn't put much stock in our advice on things, mostly."
"But two of my friends still ride with her, and I'll not sell them out to you no matter what tortures you threaten me with. They are cowards for letting her do me this way, but they are still my friends."
"And maybe you don't know what the black pillar is, but something tells me that one does." With that he points one shaky finger at Cadfael's retreating back.
This seems to take the last of his strength. He curls up in a horrifying spasm, and a strangled scream escapes his lips. His body jerks straight suddenly, and he vomits a stream of black blood all over himself and Rennik. Some of it even splashes onto the cuffs of Sa'ids pants.
After two more gut wrenching spasms, the man dies with his eyes open in a look of horror.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (2)
Rennik stands up abruptly, shuddering with anger, and wipes his face before howling at the sky and kicking the corpse in the ribs repeatedly.
A stream of obscenities pours from his mouth before being obscured in a mix of feral halfling tongue and abnormally harsh elven.
Giving the body a final kick, he stalks off several paces to a patch of tall grass and starts rolling around in it to clear the blood and ichor off his armor, hands and hair. Anyone who catches his eye can quickly tell that distance is warranted at least until the halfling calms some more.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (2)
Sa'id wipes the blood from his attire and then, turning back to Farron, rolls his eyes at the antics of Cadfael and Rennik. He follows it up with a sly wink before turning to investigate the bile-covered corpse.
(OOC: Ty, I want to try and figure out how he died -- i.e., what exactly the poison did that caused him to die. I'd also like to try to identify as best I can the "black blood" that he spewed out. If possible, I'd like to do all of this without getting too messy, but if I have to cut him open to do it I will.)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (2)
You may attempt to do so, but the process will be lengthy. Does the group want to wait here while Sa'id does an autopsy? Or do you want to take the body with you? It would take several hours to gain any meaningful information.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (2)
At this point, Rennik is in no state to argue or offer any opinion. He's taking some valuable "calm down" time at the moment, and will likely growl at anyone who attempts to come over toward him.
His eyes shift back and forth between the corpse and Elise's trail, though, and you can tell that he's getting anxious to move again. He's just not at his most social right now.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (2)
"We should move." Mission shoulders his crossbow, tucking the unspent bolt back into the quiver. He draws up his staff. "The Path is neither straight, nor soft-- but hard as Stone, hot as Blood."
With that, he tucks a pebble into the dead man's tunic, careful not to touch the blood that fans out over his chest.
"Elise will give us far better answers than this corpse."
From: Scott
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (2)
There is very little good accomplished standing around-- so Mission patrols the immediate area, stealthily, quietly, keeping his ears open.
When the party moves, he will move back swiftly into marching order.