Chapter 1 - Amateur Style Mercenaries

[YamItheonly1]

Lucas will start to prod the mound of dirt, first with his fingers, if no resistance he then uses his throwing knife, and again if there is no resistance he gingerly plunges his short sword into the dirt. If there is still no resistance Lucas will stand up and look severely dissapointed

"Whatca see Malz?"

[GreyWolfVT]

Hamish pokes at the mound with his booted foot. Shrugging unsure of what it is.

[MonkeyWrench]

Malzahel answers without looking at the young human, his eyes never leaving the surround buildings, "I guess... Nothing. I thought I saw some movement on the top level of that house... But it may have been shadows. Whatever could have done that to.. to them... I doubt it would conceal it's presence if it's able to take out two Dalish in a matter of minutes."

Just waiting on Antman before posting the summary.

[Antman9]

(Aedilberct) [Defense: 11][AR: 0] (HP: 30/30)
Action: Inspects the mound

Aedilberct considers the mound and watches as Lucas prods the dirt. "This is very unusual. We shouldn't tarry long here. If you can find nothing of importance we should move on to the nearest house and search for clues." He'll wait to see what Lucas discovers then move off to the nearest house in search of additional information to shed light on this mystery.

[GreyWolfVT]

Hamish "Sounds like a good idea. Lets move on and away from ere."

[YamItheonly1]

If Lucas' poking doesn't reveal anything he quickly loses interest and looks towards the other buildings

"Well lets check the house Malz was looking at!"

[MonkeyWrench]

Summary Post

As the group makes their way to the suspicious mound of dirt, Lucas, Hamish, Aedilberct take a few moments to check the mound for anything of interest while Malzahel keeps vigil, his bow at the ready and his mind in grief. Lucas is the first, plunging head first into the unknown, starting with his fingers. He digs into the mound and finds little resistance, the soil is loose and most likely was fairly freshly moved, perhaps a couple days at most. The mound being to high for his fingers to find anything he next tries his short sword, stabbing it in and moving it about to see if it catches on anything, unfortunately the sword does not react to anything hard, such as a chest, but it does meet some resistance near what he can only assume is the bottom of the hole.

As he works at finding anything of note he speaks to Malzahel, asking what the elf's eyes had seen, with possibly little results. Hamish assists the young thief with the mound, kicking and prodding dirt out of the way while Aedilberct surveys it from a more tactical vantage point. As Lucas digs, searching for what is hidden under the dirt, he finds the body of a small child. The child looks to be an infant, perhaps passing away at birth or just after, it is wrapped up in a white woolen cloth with a ring, attached to a thin bronze chain necklace. Looking over the somber scene, Aedilberct detects a magical element about the ring.

Malzahel, perhaps catching on to the sudden silence in the air, turns to the group huddled around the mound, 'What is it? We should move on and search these buildings for survivors. There's a lot of buildings here and we've only checked two so far, they're may be people hiding out..."

Your immediate surroundings are the shed you found Mal's dead friends in, the small patch of field that you found a dead infant and possible magic ring in, the large two story farm house, and the barn that Lucas came out of. Beyond that is a bunch of fields and buildings that may or may not have surprises in every one of them, surprises that you may or may not like!

Actions!

[YamItheonly1]

"well well well...I was not expecting that" Despite the rather ghastly discovery, Lucas still seems quite cheery, most likely to naive to notice how truly horrible it was to uncover a babies grave.

Alright guys, lets check out these houses, maybe we can find something that isn't dead." Lucas says to his companions

Lucas will start putting the dirt back into the hole

[GreyWolfVT]

Hamish just moves back to the house the others are inspecting he just stands around like a lookout/guard.

[Antman9]

(Aedilberct) [Defense: 11][AR: 0] (HP: 30/30)
Action: Looks into the fabric of the universe

Aedilberct frowns at the sight of the sight of the newborn babe, and gently halts Lucas from covering the babe. “Death is an inevitable force that takes without asking. Even so, this death may contain knowledge that will assist us on our path. Give me a moment.” He kneels, rests his hand on the ring, touching both it and the babe at the same time, closes his eyes, focuses on the power within himself, and waits for the secret threads coursing through nature to reveal the secrets that lie within the ring and the babe.

[MonkeyWrench]

Summary Post

The group finally sees their long awaited prize, finding it to be more grim than they had initially thought however. Hamish looks over the small dead infant silently, then just as silently walks back towards the large farm house, standing near Malzahel, acting as a guard for anything that may attack them as they investigate. Lucas looks over the small body with both curiosity and some form of naive cheerfulness, "well well well...I was not expecting that" The young thief then proceeds to start piling the dirt back onto the small dead infant body, only to be stopped by Aedilberct, a hand on his shoulder, the circle mage kneels down to the uncovered hole, "Death is an inevitable force that takes without asking. Even so, this death may contain knowledge that will assist us on our path. Give me a moment."

Aedilberct places a hand on the ring, physically touching the infant as a result. His magical third sight indeed reveals a magical haze originating the from ring, the infant unfortunately is devoid of any aura, magical or otherwise. As Aedilberct handles the ring, picking it up slowly and moving it in his fingers, looking over the engraving, the magical aura of the ring holds a defensive quality, the image of a sphere, magical in nature, forming to protect it's creator from spells. With the information in hand Aedilberct retreats from his magical sight and comes back to reality, the world coming back into focus, colors returning until everything is as it was. PM of ring sent to Antman

Seeing that the mage is back from whatever he was just doing Lucas stands up, commenting to the group as a whole, "Alright guys, lets check out these houses, maybe we can find something that isn't dead." Once more filling the hole back in with dirt, minus the ring that rests in Aedilberct's hand. Once all is said and done the group looks at the options before them...

Current View, Small shed which contained blood writing and malzahels chopped up friend bits, the smaller private field that contained a dead infant and magical ring(Currently held by Aedilberct, the large two story farm house that Malzehel thought he may have seen movement from, and the large barn building that Lucas was seen exiting, sounds of animals coming from within.

Actions? Go to the farmhouse? Barn? Inspect the rest of the farm area? Screw this place and move on to the town? Dance battle?!?? Farm simulator?!??

[GreyWolfVT]

Hamish "Lets go have one of them barn dances."

[YamItheonly1]

"I wouldn't mind getting another bag of feed, its a little crunchy, but kinda tasty, like in a flour-y, crunchy, doughy kind of way" Lucas looks at Aedilberct "You look like you could use some more food"

[Antman9]

(Aedilberct) [Defense: 11][AR: 0] (HP: 30/30)
Action: Pushes onward

Once finished covering the deceased infant, Aedilberct stares a the ring in the palm of his hand. "There are useful items to assist the dead in their journey. I do not believe this to be one of those." He squeezes the ring in his fist a moment then places it on one of his fingers. "A barn dance would be a nice reprieve from this grim scene, Hamish, my friend. Perhaps you will get your wish. Sooner rather than later I hope." He looks at the boy, who offers more raw grain. "You are a queer fellow. But I admire your determination and resilient nature. We should move on." Aedilberct heads directly toward the two-story house without delay.

[MonkeyWrench]

Looks like Hamish and Lucas want to go to the barn but Aedilberct wants to go to the two story house?

Or is there some confusion with descriptions? Let's get a re-vote on direction.

Places in immediate vicinity:
Two-story large farm house - seems empty
animal barn - Lucas came from
small shed - Searched
Small field patch - Searched
Other (rest of farm grounds)

[YamItheonly1]

Getting more feed or ransacking a house, doesn't matter to Lucas, although the house does look quite tempting

[GreyWolfVT]

i'll vote for the house first then the barn

[MonkeyWrench]

House it is!

Writing Summary!

[MonkeyWrench]

Summary Post

The group of four begins to regroup, Lucas fills in the small grave while Aedilberct places the seemingly magical item upon his person, speaking to both the group and to himself, perhaps in some way to reassure him of the deed he just commited, "There are useful items to assist the dead in their journey. I do not believe this to be one of those.". Hamish and Malzahel keep watch as the mage and thief set to work, their eyes flitting over the surroundings, watchful of any new dangers. Once the grave had been filled the group voices their opinions on what to do next, Hamish speaking up first once he deems the others ready to go, "Lets go have one of them barn dances."

Lucas, the next to speak, comments on the choice of location with his own experience, "I wouldn't mind getting another bag of feed, its a little crunchy, but kinda tasty, like in a flour-y, crunchy, doughy kind of way" Thinking over the matter for another moment he turns to Aedilberct, a thoughtful look to his face, "You look like you could use some more food." Aedilberct, answering Hamish in turn, "A barn dance would be a nice reprieve from this grim scene, Hamish, my friend. Perhaps you will get your wish. Sooner rather than later I hope." Then looks to Lucas, a confused but interested look upon his features, "You are a queer fellow. But I admire your determination and resilient nature. We should move on." and with those words beings moving towards the large farmhouse, the others right behind him.

The small field where the group found their morbid scene is only 7 yards away from the two storied farmhouse. As the group begins to make their way towards the front door they take another look over the house. The house seems to be abandoned like the rest, the windows covered in what appears to be dirt from days of wind near lands of loose soil. But with the exception of the absent cleaning staff the house looks to be in peak condition, the siding looks fresh, the wood seems sturdy and not warped from the weather, there are no cracks in and of the glass windows, and the door is closed. When the group covers the distance to the house, trying the door, they find it to be unlocked and well maintained in the silent swing of the door is any estimation.

Inside, directly in front of them, they see a double staircase, 2 yards in width, going up to the second floor with a plateau just before the second floor where the stairs split sideways, heading to either side of the houses hallways. To their left, on the first level, the group can spot a large dining area, with a long and well furnished table with cloth dominating the middle of the room. Cabinets line one wall, their glass window doors allowing a quick peak at would could be plates and other decorative eating ware, a hallway leading further into the house can be seen, most likely leading to the kitchen. To their right looks to be a large sitting area, couches and chairs, with their adjacent end tables and other such furniture, formed strategically throughout the area for any guests or residents to be able to comfortable speak to each other. On the right side of the house the exterior is extended out a yard out and spanning 3 yards in length with windows lining each side, now that the group is just inside the interior they can make out that the area is a small sitting and reading area, with an elevated seating built into the wall, cushions laying all about.

For now it is quiet... everyone, roll me a perception check (optional)

Actions!

Loot the place?
Search for survivors?
This place is filthy! Time to clean?
Dance battle?!?!!

[YamItheonly1]

"All that nice eatery ware and no food in sight, how can the rich live without food?" Lucas muses almost depressingly as he looks around the house

Perception check: [3d6+1] = 11+1 = 12 Lucas will very slowly move into the dining room area while sniffing around for any hints of food or life.