In-Character 4 Predator and Prey

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101

[quote="Hengist"] I'll take the tome and box to show to... someone, probably Kaul first unless anyone else asks.  I'm curious, but not curious enough after that glass globe trap to open elvish boxes.  The sword, quiver of arrows and composite bow get gathered up and belted on myself until someone says something about it.  (My own short bow goes to Dagmar when I'm back if she's not already carrying it.)  Lastly I'll check the body for coins, gems or jewelry while unceremoniously pulling off the scale armor for bundling before climbing back up. [/quote]

Hengist makes quick work of stripping the body of valuables, carefully eyeing the treeline and open space around the palisade for watchers. As he removes the corpse's armor, he notices a pair of solid copper armbands depicting knotwork, probably worth some 40gp, and removes those, too.

[quote="Gwydion"] "Hengist, let us hide the body inside the cottage. Perhaps the others can pass us a rope. May I examine the book?" [/quote]

[quote="Masov"] Masov will toss up a rope to whomever seems to want it most, as he has one, and will assist in pulling the body over, as that's what it sounds like we're doing. He will also make a mental note to ask a mage about a "Float Corpse" spell. [/quote]

While Masov has trouble imagining that a spell capable of floating a corpse could exist, he's not sure he'd want a floating body around in any case - surely someone must have noticed the commotion by now? Glancing back out to the lane, he checks for any villagers before coiling his rope and tossing the end over the wall to Hengist.

[quote="Hengist"] Hengist will indeed oblige by tying the rope around the ankles of the dead elf.  In no way does he pause slightly, rope end in hand, while considering which end of the elf to tie the rope to. [/quote]

With the rope secured around the body's ankles, Masov and Kaul, assissted by Gwydion at the top of the palisade, haul the corpse upwards, until Gwydion is able to manhandle it through the open window. The rope is then thrown down again and secured as Hengist clambers back up under his heavy load. The evidence now hidden from sight, the conspirators head back inside the cottage, gathering in the main room.

[quote="Hengist"] I also hand the book to Gwydion once I'm back myself.... [/quote]

[quote="Gwydion"] Gwydion takes the book with great care and examines it for any obvious signs of a trap. [/quote]

Nothing appears particularly dangerous about the heavy leather book, although it looks to have seen significant abuse: heavy gouges and marks across its covers and binding make it appear to have been slashed and stabbed with some violence over its existence. Opening it elicits a crackling from the spine, and Gwydion's nose is struck by the smell of dry parchment, along with hints of sulfur, copper, and ammonium. The tome appears to be a spellbook, and written in elvish, no less. It will take some time to decipher the contents...

[quote="Hengist"] ...still trying to palm the box off on Kaul. [/quote]

[quote="Kaul"] ill take the box and start to examine it, carefully in case it has any trap like the puzzlebox before. 

"ill take a look at this" [/quote]

Examining the box, Kaul can discern no obvious danger.

102

[quote="bobloblah"]

Loremastery
I rolled 1d20, the result is 1 = 1.

[/quote]

Masov

...raises a finger to speak: 'I....' and stops, mouth open, before continuing: ''have no idea what any of this may mean.'

 

103

Kerrick Helmsworth

In deference to Andrew, Kerrick will at least be careful when removing the chain from the elf’s body.

For now, he is simply carrying it; he will add the map to the elves’ pouch and carry that for now as well. (Kerrick thinks to himself that at some point, when we have time, everyone should get together to divide treasure.)

104

After some odd thumping from the loft above, the others have all returned to the main room where Kerrick and Miska are. Hengist seems to be carrying more gear than when he left, Gwydion is leafing through a large, leather-bound book that has seen considerable wear, and Kaul is carefully examining a black box of some kind.

105

Andrew

“I might be able to keep him alive. I don’t think he’ll be any trouble whatever the case?” If anyone asks Andrew will try and provide mundane aid. They’ll need to wait for magical.

106

Kaul carefully examines the small box for traps, getting a close look at it in the process. The box is made of a hard, black wood, probably ebony, and has been finished with a clear, shiny lacquer. It's about 4" tall, by 6" deep, by 12" wide, and there appears to be a 1" lid, the front of which is adorned by a brass keyhole. As he moves the box around, Kaul can hear...objects...moving around inside, clinking as they do, although the sound is soft and muffled.

107

What is everyone doing at this point?

108

Kaul

I ask if anybody has see a key 

109

No, no one has found a key.

110

Masov

After rewrapping his rope, will take a glance around the cottage - how many folks does it look like could stay here? How much evidence of habitation is there, for how many people?  

If not out of actionable options in this regard, he'll then apply Loremastery or Magical Engineering to objects that look like they be interesting in those regards.

 

111

Aria

Aria awakens as if from a strange dream in which she was a demiurge in control of a vast realm, which she had to populate with all manner of strange creatures, providing them with habitats each. She has no idea what's going on but is ready to attack...something...anything. 

 

112

And which might those be?

;-)

113

GWYDION

Gwydion tears himself from study of the book to ensure nothing of the fleeing elf is left behind. Once that is accomplished, he will move to the cottage to assist in the search there. He is also interested in a thorough search of the body as well in case there may be tattoos or other markings.

114

Kerrick Helmsworth

Once Gwydion returns to the cottage, Kerrick will hand him the map.

“Their leader had this on him; it appears to be marked in elvish.”

115

Sword, Arrows, Armbands, Bow, Scale armor, Box, in that order, not knowing at the moment how much time each takes; if it's quick I still have that weird torc and the green glass ball from earlier I could Magically Engineer, possibly, now that I've remembered what proficiencies I have.

116

Masov first considers the matched blades wielded by the spellword. While noteworthy for their elegance, the blades do not appear to be enchanted, and he does not recognise their make or origins. The blade wielded by the other elf is a different matter. Longer and heavier than those of his companion, with a bronze and cherry-wood grip, this blade has faint green-patinaed etching on the blade that Masov recognises as coming from the smiths of the Greywoods. Many such enchanted blades were carried here by the elves that originally cleared the area after the Mountain that Fell. Although you can't read elvish, you're fairly certain Gwydion would tell you the etching reads: ORDER.

The arrows seem unremarkable, some even appearing to have been handcrafted without the aid of proper tools. As Masov examines them, something clatters to the floor from the quiver. It appears to be a small, brass key.

The armbands are copper, and to the untrained eye would appear to be nothing more than unremarkable elven jewellry, though the knotwork design hails from the elven Greywoods region. But more than that, Masov knows that the fabled Rangers of Blackmarsh are said to bear such tokens as a sign of their allegiance; inexpensive copper signifies humility, bands around the wrists signify duty, and the knotwork represents the order the elves purport to bring.

The bow carried by the spellsword appears to be a simple yew shaft, unremarkable in its design and construction. The composite bow Hengist now carries is of far better quality, though it, too, does not appear to be in any way magical.

The scale armor worn by the elf that wore the copper armbands does not appear to be enchanted, although it shows intricate hand-tooled detailing.

The box is as Kaul reported earlier. Well-made, and of ebony wood, with a brass lockplate in the front of the lid.

The glass ball is like nothing Masov has ever seen, even among the artisanal glass-blowers of Blackmarsh. No seam or nipple remains on the vessel as evidence of its make. Inside swirls a thick, cloudy substance, its appearance more of clouds in the sky than a liquid, although Masov can feel the substance's shifting weight as he moves the sphere about. The nature of the substance eludes him.

Kerrick hands Masov the chain armor worn by the apparent spellblade, and the bard is immediately struck by the feel: feather-light, supple, the links as fine as fishscale. No mere apprentice's enchantment binds this armor - it bears the mark of a powerful wizard. None of the damage Kerrick described is apparent. The mail appears as untouched as when it left its maker's hand.

 

117

Kerrick Helmsworth

Kerrick will also offer Masov the chain armor worn by the spellsword for examination.

“I suspect there might be something about this armor, since it appears undamaged even after being stabbed repeatedly.”

118

Aria ignores the others, performing a kata with her blades while the other talk, talk, talk, and busy themselves examaning the cabin like a bunch of goodwives keeping house. Lost in dreams of becoming a virtual god, she is brought up short when she nearly decapitates Dagmar. The blunt and homely woman scowls at Aria.

119

While Masov carefully examines the items recovered from the bodies of the two elves, Gwydion examines the bodies of the elves themselves. The one his party members surmised was a spellsword is unmarked (save his grievous wounds) and bears no tattoos, but his companion has a swirling, blue and green pattern on his chest. It bears a certain resemblence to the pattern of leaves on the recovered puzzle-box, but is also distinctly different, and recalls the artistry that decorates the halls of the King's Tower and the Queen's Tower at the heart of the Greywoods.

As he finishes, Kerrick hands him the map from the spellsword's beltpouch. Puzzling over it for a moment, Gwydion recognises it as a map of Orlean. Grabbing another piece of parchment and a fragment of coal from the fire, the enchanter begins redwrawing and translating in the common tongue. His work, while crude, is legible.

 

120

GWYDION

Gwydion grunts as he ponders the implications. “What is this ‘power?’ How many factions seek to do mischief here?” He crosses his arms and frowns. “What is the connection here with the Rangers?”