0. Prelude

[OGRE MAGE]

Sparrow walks past the Halfling, looking down at him as he does so.

Look like covered pearls to me.

Sparrow then exits the room behind Sylvan. He has no desire to debate right or wrong when it comes to looting.

He walks up to Sylvan and sniffs his cloak where he wiped the herbs off his fingers.

Your magic. What did it do to that creature in there?

[AleBelly]

On his way out the door, Sylvan is questioned by Sparrow. He looks at the charcoal-colored man, reading his face for trustworthiness. Apparently he passes the test. "It was an enchantment to help my allies' weapons strike true."

Sylvan nods and exits.

[hedgeknight]

Festus follows Sylvan out and after they are out of ear-shot of the others, he says, "What are ya thinking about that man and that dead creature in there? Tomb-robbing? Visiting loved ones? Guard on duty? We ain't been here ten minutes and I already don't like it."

[spanningtree]

Madrevin will also turn to leave through the same way he entered. If someone needs or wants the pearls, let it be.... He will shrug as he comments on the running issue in the room.

[AleBelly]

Sylvan gives a slight shrug of his shoulders. "Hyenas usually travel in packs, so it's weird to see one alone. Perhaps it and the humanoid were scouts, looking for targets of opportunity. Although back when my family guarded trade caravans we saw multiple scouts in a party. I don't know what to make of all this either, but I'm of the same mind as you. Let's be on guard. If we're indeed heading to that town it may not be an easy stroll."

Outside the structure, Sylvan will examine tracks in the area to see if the humanoid and hyena were traveling together...a and where they came from.

[Alethan]

Ciar leaves the building, as well.

Once outside, breathing fresher air, he adds, "The other coffin had the same surname on it, but no first name. Maybe it was empty. Oh, I also noted the flowers on the dead woman were old - maybe a week - while the flowers the man had by him were fresh. Presumably, he was visiting the dead with new flowers when he was set upon by the dog-thing and it's... well, it's dog."

[AleBelly]

Sylvan nods. "As I thought. I assume the other coffin is for the deceased. The decent thing to do is put his body in its intended resting place. As I was telling the dwarf here, the man must have known this is a dangerous area. Let's be on guard."

[OGRE MAGE]

I agree, the body should be laid to rest before scavengers come along. I will volunteer. Will anyone help me with this task?

[AleBelly]

"I'll help. Will grab the candelabra too to save it from scavengers. Maybe we can find his heirs in town" Sylvan replies.

He will act accordingly.

[onlyme]

Eohannud calls out across the room, 'Five pearls of varying colour? Bah—I would require six of a kind to replace these ebony buttons. You may take them. If you desire treasure for its own sake, that platinum candelabra will fill your coffers or square your dining table—I find it garish.'

He turns to Fulp. 'The victim appears to have been of meagre means, but I sense something extraordinary in his armour. Are you knowledgable on such things, does his armour look to be of fine quality?'

Fulp answers,
Well, I'd say it wasnt fine enough. But, it aint gonna hurt his feelings if you want to try it on.

Fulp will assist in any burial, including helping Eohannud with the plate if he so desires.

[Starbeard]

Eohannud has no interest in taking the armour. He goes outside, letting the others deal with the burial. While they do so, he will move back to the top of the hill by the wall, hoping to find where the nearest buildings or villages are in the surrounding area.

[dmw71]

The group inspects the room and its contents. Sparrow retrieves a small pouch from around the neck of the humanoid hyena creature containing five thumbnail sized gems, which Ciar has volunteered to carry after his own examination of them. Eohannud inspects the mail armor worn by the elderly warrior and suspects something extraordinary about it. "Well, I'd say it wasn't fine enough," quips Fulp. Sylvan is seen pulling some leafy substance from his pouch and muttering in some strange tongue while making a simple gesture. A moment later, he retrieves the six-armed candelabra from its alcove. "Maybe we can find the rightful heirs in town, or at least keep it from scavengers," he says. He also adds, based on the evidence in the room, that the unopened coffin is probably for the deceased. "The decent thing to do is put his body in its intended resting place." he says, mentioning that the coffin is likely safe, but the area they're in might be dangerous if the fallen man came to visit his departed in full arms. Sparrow agrees to move the elderly man to his proper resting place and requests assistance, which Sylvan and Fulp agree to assist with. Sparrow opens the other coffin and confirms it is both safe and empty. It takes considerable effort to lift the armored human into the coffin but the group is successful.

Festus has no further interest in examining or pilfering anything inside the crypt and prefers the fresh air outside where he assumes a lookout position, but suggests that it's time to move on to town to inform them of their discovery. Eohannud moves back to the top of the hill by the wall in order to locate the nearest buildings or villages in the surrounding area and suggests that down by the body of water, with the boats, is probably their best bet.

---

I ran out of time, but I will add more later. Likely tonight. Feel free to run with the above, though, if you'd like.

[onlyme]

Fulp calls out,

I suspect it best if we bring the news to the town before it is brought to us. I dont want to be questioned about a murder, if it comes to it. Going to them seems the safest route, short of going around the town altogether.

[Alethan]

Ciar likewise begins looking around outside for signs of a village or residences.

"Presumably, we're going to find the settlement nearest their source of livelyhood," Ciar says, directing his attention towards the boats in the harbor. "I say we head that way first."

[AleBelly]

Sylvan nods in agreement with the discourse as he heads outside. He crouches down to the ground, trying to discern if he can find paired flind and hyena tracks. If so, he will try to determine from which direction they have come.

"I'll try to figure out where these beasts came from. The townsfolk may be interested in that information too and may help us ingratiate ourselves with them."

[OGRE MAGE]

Sparrow also spends some time looking around for any possible tracks outside the crypt and which direction they may have come from.

[hedgeknight]

Festus keeps watch, crossbow ready, while Sylvan and Sparrow look around. To Ciar, he says, "Be nice to have a cold mug of beer and sit for a spell. Need to resupply too; figure there might be a mercantile or sommat in a port town, ya reckon?"

[Alethan]

Ciar eyes the dwarf skeptically for a moment, "Eh? That some sorta dwarf motto, then? 'Always be prepared'?"

He licks his lips as he tries to pick out any trails leading from the chapel towards the direction of the harbor. "But now that you mention it, I could use a bit of the black..."

[dmw71]

Both Sparrow and Sylvan begin to search the area just outside the above-ground burial vault in search of tracks, numerous of which are present including, most recently, those made by the current group. After an hour of intense searching by each, Sparrow notices what he believes to be the tracks left by both the hyena-looking humanoid and the hyena itself -- these tracks approach from the west (left) side of the vault, behind the cemetery, and head off in the direction of a more heavily forested area. As the two searchers perform their tasks, another settled area is spotted across the large body of water, but the nearest populated area you suspect is still down at the base of the water which, even with the reduced speeds of the halfling and dwarf, you can make in a few hours of travel.

[Alethan]

Ciar cinches the staps of his pack and says, "Let's head for the village."

He begins heading that way, albeit slowly until the others begin making their way there, as well.