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[BFace]

Tessa nodded at Rael. 

 

"Let's go, then. I am not hopeful, but we need to account for everyone."

[Lorien19]

“I’m afraid that both the mum and babe didn't make it either…”
Laurelin overheard Bartha saying,she shook her head in disappointment,partly relieved that she didn't witness the scene herself.

The group was separated again,in order to explore the remaining buildings.Beldin Etienne and Bartha went to investigate the farmhouse,so Laurelin decided that they probably wouldn't need another mage in their group,so she decided to go with Tessa and Rael instead.

"I'm coming with you."She said to the warrior and the elvhen woman as she moved forward.

[ChachiBobinks]

Etienne closed his eyes tightly as Bartha informed the others of what they had found. So much senseless slaughter... when given a task, he found himself more capable, better able to handle what they were seeing. But standing around meant more time for his mind to spin. More time for him to consider what had happened around them. 

 

His attention returned to Beldin and his jaw set. "Let's go," he said to the other two left with him. 

[mysteriouspast]

The farmhouse revealed another body, this one the farmhand's. By this time, Rael was becoming distressingly numb to the monotony of these discoveries. She'd anticipated finding nothing but corpses at the outset, as there was no conceivable reason for an entire family to hole themselves up for days.

 

Seeing it in person was something else, though. Seeing the young man sprawled, bloodied on the floor simply added to the sense of completion of the massacre. None of them spared. The only life had been that Dalish woman, and she had barely survived.

 

Rael decided to try to shake off the horrors and focus on the survivor instead. As she exited the house as quickly as she could, she said to Laurelin, "We need to get the Dalish woman to the inn as soon as possible."

[Lorien19]

Laurelin wasn't surprised to see another body in the farmhouse and the more they found,the more she was convinced that it wasn't some kind of wild animal to blame for this onslaught.Besides,whatever attacked these people left the chickens,that were far easier prey than the farmhand, intact.

She took a closer look to the unfortunate man,the same parallel claw marks.
 

The moment they left the house,Rael spoke to her "We need to get the Dalish woman to the inn as soon as possible."
Laurelin nodded in agreement."That would be best,her condition is stable...But she still needs help."She said,worried.

[berelinde]

She laid a hand on Beldins back, as she couldn’t easily reach his shoulder. “Shall we find out whether the other group also found some victims, to see if everyone has been found? Then we can proceed with your plan of bringing the bodies to the Chantry, I think? Oh, and that Dalish woman.” 

Beldin could barely feel the touch of Bartha's hand through his armor, but he flinched all the same, retreating from the unfamiliar contact.

 

"Sorry," he muttered. "This place has me jumpy."

 

He paused for a moment to find the words.

 

"Aye, we should find the others," he said. "And decide what to do with the Dalish woman. I'm uneasy about that. With all of the Fuldors dead, they're bound to blame the Dalish, and we'll be handing a helpless one over to them. The Mullins will protect her, but that's a lot of Vintiver to cross before we get to The Arbor."

[Mahumia]

Bartha muttered some apologies when the tall man retreated from her touch: “Sorry, I didn’t intend to give you a fright.” 

 

"Aye, we should find the others," he said. "And decide what to do with the Dalish woman. I'm uneasy about that. With all of the Fuldors dead, they're bound to blame the Dalish, and we'll be handing a helpless one over to them. The Mullins will protect her, but that's a lot of Vintiver to cross before we get to The Arbor."

 

Bartha frowned and rubbed her chin, pondering. “You’re right… I didn’t think hadn't thought of that. Can’t have her getting lynched due to some scapegoating… And emotions will obviously rise when we head down with the remains of the family… Besides… she might be the only one who can tell us what happened down here.” She looked up at Beldin. “I’m not sure how to find a solution without risking to heat the fire even more… Let’s discuss it with the rest?” 

 

{edited for bad English}

[ChachiBobinks]

Etienne frowned, remembering the blind prejudice he had witnessed the day prior. His gaze bounced between Bartha and Beldin. "Maker's breath," he replied finally, "I hadn't even thought of that. If we just put her in greater danger..."

 

They had a dalish among them and Etienne was starting to think that she might be better off returned to the clan. 

[berelinde]

"We should go talk to the others," Beldin said, and left the smokehouse.

[BFace]

Tess nodded at Rael's mention of the Dalish woman.

 

"Let's go see what the others have seen, and see if we can start to get things sorted. " She rubbed the end of her nose. "Or at least see what's next."

[TreeHuggerHannah]

"Maker have mercy!" Tempest murmured when she heard that there had been more bodies found - including the infant. Even as the words passed her lips, she felt the cruel irony. There had been no mercy here. She gave a wordless cry of anger and disgust, then punched the wooden door frame; a hit from a mage in light gloves did not do the slightest damage to the wood, and merely left her knuckles sore.

 

A movement caught her attention, and Tempest turned to look, expecting more horrors... only to see that it was chickens going about their bird business, perhaps a bit peeved not to have been fed but otherwise no worse for the wear.

 

Tempest stared at them for a long moment.

 

The chickens were unharmed. Whatever had come here to prey on the farmstead, it had attacked the people and ignored the livestock. What kind of creature would do such a thing? Ignore the easy kill? Go for unfamiliar prey, within the safety of four walls when there were defenseless animals closer to hand?

 

Demon! was her immediate thought. Better not to leap to conclusions, though.

 

She waited to see what plans her comrades would suggest. 

[berelinde]

Plot Post

 

Everyone is currently assembled at the well again. The sun is very low on the horizon. You have about an hour of daylight left. Vintiver is three miles away.

 

{Yes, some of you didn't post that you were leaving the building you were currently in, but unless somebody says they're looting the place, you've run out of things to do in there. If you do want to go back to any buildings to look for treasure, here's your chance. I'm not going to assume that you're going to loot every body, chest, or sack that you come across, so you're going to have to specify that you are doing so. You probably won't have to roll a search test to see if you can spot the lootable armoire, but I do need a declaration of intent.}

 

Bartha: Health is 28/34.

Beldin: Health is 26/36.

Etienne: Health is 25/25, mana is 9/20.

Laurelin: Health is 26/26, mana is 0/18.

Rael: Health is 32/32, no ammo unrecoverable.

Tempest: Health is 21/27, mana is 17/19.

Tessa: Health is 36.36.

 

Exploration findings:

 

You've found all the bodies, 10 in all. Bartha found an illustrated book and a cloak pin in Hann and Fahleen's house. There's an unconscious Dalish woman in the barn.

 

Decisions:

 

Are you going to loot any of the bodies or buildings?

Will you do anything with the corpses? Tempest suggested burning them, but Beldin suggested that it might be better to load them onto a wagon and bring them to the chantry.

What are you going to do with the Dalish woman?

[mysteriouspast]

They all reconvened around the well, all with grim faces. Not one person survived. It was almost unthinkable. Rael swallowed hard and tried to steel herself. They'd been given a task and she meant to see it through. The sun would set soon and there was nowhere she wanted to be less than Fuldor's farm after dark.

 

"The bodies..." she began uneasily. "It might do to bring them back to the town, in case they have relatives that would want to claim them. But I would want as few people as possible to see them, with those wounds... it might cause a panic, worse than we've already seen."

[BFace]

Tessa looked at the sky, then around the farmstead. It'd start getting dark before too long.  The thought of leaving the dead here for the wolves to come back to made the warrior shudder involuntarily.

 

"I agree that we have to take them back into town, and I agree that the less people who see them, the better."

 

She absently shook her hair out of her face and looked around at her companions.  The Dalish woman in the barn would also need to be taken back to town.  Tessa worried about how people would react to her, along with all the dead folks, when her gaze rested on Laurelin.  

 

Tessa felt her face pale, and she quickly looked away.  What would they think of Laurelin, whole and healthy.

 

She'd seen mobs before, and they'd all nearly seen one when Laurelin first walked into the inn.  Well, for good or ill, Tessa was in it with all of them.

 

"I also think it's maybe for the best to keep Laurelin and the other Dalish woman from prying eyes until folks can get their dead settled, people bein' what they are."

 

{Tessa would be utterly uninterested in looting this place, but non-judgey about anyone who does}

[ChachiBobinks]

"We have more sheets we could use as shrouds," Etienne suggested quietly, hands clasped behind his back as he stared at the farmhouse. "I agree - we should bring them to the chantry to allow family to claim them, and then see to a proper service if others do not. I would be more than happy to escort them, as I need to check in with my templars tonight regardless." 

 

Fixing up a wagon and carefully arranging the dead would be entirely possible, though it was work that they would all find to be heartbreaking. The dalish woman worried him more than anything, though. "Considering the reaction the townspeople had to just one death, and the Dalish presence afterwards, I think it's safe to assume that both the servant and Laurelin will be in grave danger." He looked to Beldin. "Do you know of a safe place they can hide? Or just the inn?" 

[TreeHuggerHannah]

Tempest had no objection to the suggestion of bringing the bodies to town. As long as they were given a respectful cremation she would be satisfied, and it was only right that the townspeople who had known them in life be able to pay their final respects.

 

She too was concerned about the reception the elves would receive in town. Things were fraught enough between the humans and the Dalish, and once it was known that an elf was the sole survivor of a massacre... no, it would be best not to risk it.

 

"Some of us could stay with her in the woods outside of town," Tempest suggested. "I have a small tent. We could keep her reasonably comfortable, and I could try to heal her wounds some more. Maybe in the morning, we could set out to return her to her people. That is, those who are willing?"
 

Tempest realized she shouldn't just assume the others were committed to do more than the job they were being paid for.

[berelinde]

"Do you know of a safe place they can hide? Or just the inn?" 

For a change, Beldin could sense the direction the enigmatic young mage's thoughts were taking him.

 

"Most of the farmers around here are staying with friends in Vintiver until this blows over," he said. "And I remember passing an abandoned farmstead on the way in. It was a small place, just the house and a field, but it's got a lake on one side and a ridge on another. It's more defensible than this place. After it's secure, a few of us could hole up there with the Dalish woman while the rest bring the bodies into town."

[ChachiBobinks]

Nodding to Tempest, "I'm sure that with additional healing, we could keep her stable. Have you any healing tonics, messere? She fights infection and I am embarrassed to say that I do not have any myself." 

 

 

"Most of the farmers around here are staying with friends in Vintiver until this blows over," he said. "And I remember passing an abandoned farmstead on the way in. It was a small place, just the house and a field, but it's got a lake on one side and a ridge on another. It's more defensible than this place. After it's secure, a few of us could hole up there with the Dalish woman while the rest bring the bodies into town."

 

Etienne rubbed his chin absently. "Some of us could escort the passed to the Chantry while the others secure the farmstead. I do not see why we all could not stay at the stead after, should that be safe." His gaze settled on Beldin thoughtfully but was back to the farmhouse just as quickly. "I would insist on escorting the passed, of course."

[Lorien19]

Laurelin was pleasantly surprised when the rest of the party, expressed concern about the well-being of her fellow Dalish.
She realized that bringing the injured elvhen woman back to the inn,as the sole survivor of the massacre wasn't a wise thing to do.
The humans would react negatively to say the least,she's knew that under such circumstances some of them would even become blood thirsty,demanding revenge for the victims.

"I agree,she would be safer away from the townsfolk for the time being.Until her condition improves and we...I can escort her back to her camp."She said.
"I will stay with her,while the rest of you bring the bodies back to Vintiver for a proper funeral."

[TreeHuggerHannah]

Tempest shook her head. "I don't have any potions, I'm afraid," she said, reddening slightly and looking sheepish. What sort of healer was she without those basic necessities? "I do have a healer's kit, and my magic. I should be able to keep her well enough to see her through till morning. I also have a little money if we need potions from town... but only a little."

 

She wasn't planning on going into town. For one thing, she had basically volunteered herself to look after the injured woman. For another, Tempest wasn't exactly eager to cross paths with the templars Etienne had mentioned. She suspected they would be less tolerant of her self-made circle than Etienne himself had been.

[Mahumia]

Bartha crossed her arms when she hearda soft rumble coming from her stomach. She was looking forward to a warm meal... not camping outside!
"Well.... after what happened down here I'd rather search for the safety of the village than some abandonned farm to spend the night." She looked at Tempest before looking again at the rest: "I agree that it would not be wise to bring the Dalish woman into Vintiver, however, we've seen the amount of wolves around here... Wandering around with the remains of the family might attract more of them, I think? I don't know... can't we just bring the injured woman to some Dalish village and ensure some proper funeral for the deseased?" She looked at her shredded armor: "I'd rather not wait for another attack to happen with the state my equipment is in, and I'm not the only one who's worse for wear. If whatever attacked this farm is out there for more blood.... I don't think it will help anyone if they have to arrange our funeral too."

[berelinde]

"I agree that it would not be wise to bring the Dalish woman into Vintiver, however, we've seen the amount of wolves around here... Wandering around with the remains of the family might attract more of them, I think? I don't know... can't we just bring the injured woman to some Dalish village and ensure some proper funeral for the deseased?" She looked at her shredded armor: "I'd rather not wait for another attack to happen with the state my equipment is in, and I'm not the only one who's worse for wear. If whatever attacked this farm is out there for more blood.... I don't think it will help anyone if they have to arrange our funeral too."

Beldin scratched his chin. He was long overdue for a shave, but that was not what he was thinking about.

 

"Do the Dalish even have villages?" he asked Laurelin. "I think we're done with the wolves, but there's worse about, and I'm thinking that going into the forest might be more dangerous than going into Vintiver with her. We could put her between the driver and another tall person on the wagon seat, throw one cloak over the lot, and nobody would even know she was there."

 

He sketched a map in the dirt depicting a clustered group of rectangles resembling the farm, a big circle that could have been Vintiver, and a straight road connecting them. He drew an X about two thirds of the way toward the circle.

 

"We're going to have to walk past the farmhouse to get to the village," he said. "It's abandoned, but only since the trouble began, so it should still have all the comforts of home. We could nip in, make sure it's safe, and then Etienne, me, and anybody else who wants could take the wagon on to the village while Laurelin and Tempest stay with the Dalish woman at the farmhouse. We could pick up some salve from Kesla and be back there within an hour."

[mysteriouspast]

Rael considered things for a moment and said, "I'll volunteer to wait at the farmhouse with the Dalish woman. I like not the thought of what the villagers would do if they saw her." She glanced at each person in turn, but noticeably avoided Beldin's eyes. "I think it's best if we stay in one place. I...hope we are all in agreement that whatever killed those poor souls needs to be stopped."

 

She paused again, trying to collect her errant thoughts. "Should the Dalish wake up, we might receive some vital intelligence and choose to act on it quickly. Being separated would slow us down and compromise our safety." She absently kicked the dirt and watched her feet. "Those are my thoughts, at any rate."

[BFace]

"I think holing up at the next farmhouse would be best. We need to regroup, and get that woman some healing.  If some of you want to head to Vintiver for salves or what have you, that's fine, but I really think staying together is the way to go for the night."

 

Tessa frowned at her feet. "I've had enough of wolves, and I'm not ashamed to say that I am worried about worse than wolves after dark."

[berelinde]

Plot Post

 

It takes a little bit of coaxing, but Tessa is able to wrangle the Fuldor's oxen into the wagon's yoke. (Communication(Animal Handling) TN13. Tessa's 17 succeeds.) Meanwhile, the mighty among the party carry the fallen out of the buildings and prepare them for the sad trip back to Vintiver. The sun is almost completely down by the time you get the last of the bodies loaded and go back to the barn for the injured Dalish woman.

 

As you move her, the hand she has pressed to her side falls away, and she drops a heavy, forged-silver link engraved with ancient runes. What do you do?

 

Eventually, you depart, and arrive at the temporarily-abandoned farmhouse about an hour later. Not surprisingly, the windows are dark, but there is plenty of firewood, and the lock on the door is still in working order. You put the Dalish woman in one of the beds and those who will continue on to Vintiver with the Fuldors prepare to depart.

 

{I have Etienne and Beldin returning to Vintiver. Rael, Tempest, and presumably Laurelin are remaining at the farmhouse. Will Bartha and Tessa go with the wagon or remain at the farmhouse?}