Oasis 5: Rag Children
Lady Kiya Kashani, a half-sil of some repute in the noble district, has come to the Adventurer's Guild. It is uncertain whether the young noblewoman could look any more out of place. Her poise is as perfect as the artistic glass she is rumored to be fond of. Her hands play over a small trinket in her lap--it glints in the evening mana-lamp on the officer's desk.
The guild officer himself, Jaggard Dormachur, stands there. Awkwardly, as though he might click his heels together at any moment. The Kashanis bring in a lot of sponsorship to the arts, and local craftsfolk. Which of course, means the guilds and...
...everyone the Adventurer's Guild does business with, normally.
"Thank you for coming," she says to you. Her voice has a sort of distant warmth to it.
Like glass.
Serraphine walks over closer to the guild officer, offering a bag to him as she says, "Can you please hold this for a moment?" And hopefully he does as she starts trying to fix the straps on her vambraces before reaching into the bag and pulling out three cookies in each hand. Munch-munch-munch...
Charlotte tilts her head at Lady Kishani. She bows to the lady. "It is my pleasure, ma'am. I imagine that you'll explain why we're here." She then looks to the Guild Officer. "You shouldn't stand so rigid like that. you'll pass out.
Celeste is here. Who had the bright idea of inviting the half-orc gladiatrix to meet someone this important, who could guess? She stands with her back against the wall, busy eating the flesh off of a... a something. The former owner of the flesh is completely unknown, save for the trickle of red blood fresh on Celeste's chin. Ins response to the half-sil's greeting, she offers a short but jovial "Mmmngh."
Jormund puffs out his scrawny chest and twirls the end of his prodigous mustache "Ma'm, I'm Jormund and I would gladly assist you on your endeavor." he says looking around at the others. "Tarien is sure to bless us with all the luck we need."
<OOC> Beaglefinder refs http://tenebraemush.net/index.php/Oasis_Tribune_Posts btw. :3
Master Jaggard Dormachur raises his fist to his mouth. Coughs a few times.
Lady Kashani glances at Master Dormachur, then back to you. She smiles warmly at Jormund. The figure in her lap is of a miniature, glimmering dragon. Pristine in its form, perfection. One could swear it was a living thing.
"I hate to be so abrupt, but I am afraid there isn't much time," she says. Her fingers play over its surface, tik-tik. Ting. "Normally, I would invite you for a bit of coffee, or...this really is abrupt."
"I'm afraid there are spirits who've infested the museum. I'm not sure why. It could be its proximity to the mountains." The Vardaman Temple sits over one such mountain entrance. Deep within the Redridge are a series of catacombs. Ones "well-tended to" by the adventuring community, as it were.
"Spirits, hmm? Do you know what types?" Charlotte says resting her left arm on the rapier she wears there....
Jormund nods "Oh not to worry, I am a halfling of the road and are use to taking instructions on the go. Do we have any intelligence on the spectors or whats going on with them? Or is that part of the mission?" he says still posing akwardly, twirling his mustache.
Serraphine stares at them, then raises the cookies carefully to her mouth - coffin shaped - and takes another bite. Munch-munch-munch. This sounds like a great story to tell around the campfire, like... a ghost story one would say. "Wait..." she moves her jaw about trying to get a bit of cookie off of her back teeth, "Yoo sa-a-yin there's Ghosts?" AH! Got it. Another move of her jaw, "Okay." She takes another bite. Munch-munch-munch-munch.
A loud belch issues from Celeste's throat as she finishes what she was eating. The half-orc steps forwards from the wall, giving her armor, such as it is, a quick double-check and shouldering the weight of her shield. "Spirits? No doubt we can deal with them," she declares. "I'm confident we can do it without damaging the exhibits, too."
"Hem, hem, yes. Well, some children have been vanishing in the area at the same time," Dormachur says, gruffly. "Please keep your eyes out, while you're there. I don't know if it's related, but..."
The lady looks surprised. "I hadn't heard...oh. Well, yes, do. I had hoped by sending you out there at night, it would help find the spirits. But, perhaps, yes. Do keep your eyes open for anyhing else. My family will gladly pay for your time, if it is helpful...?" she looks to Dormachur, who puffs up a bit. Clears his throat.
"Hem. Hem. It would be. Well, I can give you a rundown of the area..."
And so, you're presented with a report. A series of notes, taken by a Guild scribe. Accounts from local workfolk. Several of the workfolk began reporting signs of sickness, or bite marks. It's become bad enough that around seven, now eight are barred from work. 'Possibly contageous, in quarrantine' read the notes in the margins.
You paged Charlotte with 'Now that you think on it... There had been some cases of disease and contagation among the Soldier's Defense, recently. Those workfolk are indeed in quarantine. But, the nurses had whispered about the victims feeling especially cold, as well. It's taking them an unusual amount of time to work through whatever it is.
Serraphine wrinkles her nose at Celeste before raising her cookie - and while giving her an reproachful gaze - takes another bite. Munch-munch-munch-munch. The Arvek might be a noisy chewer, but that's mostly because they're loud cookies, she doesn't like... chew with her mouth open. Chomp, munch-munch-munch. She's sure to listen to it all, nodding in all the right places, and keeps the crumbs to a minimum... and doing the little lick-finger-dab-crumbs when they fall on the map or notes.
You paged Serraphine with 'As you read through the reports, you know what? Most of the workfolk who seemed affected were working in covered areas. It also tended to occur mostly in the evenings. Your training allows you to pick up these details like a trap, and lay them out before you, like a strategy. Is this important? the gray cells ask!
"Like in the Soldier's defense?" Charlotte says quietly as she reads the report. "Victims feeling especially cold during that time...." She keeps reading the report.
Celeste does not fail to note the look she receives from Serraphine, and the half-orc returns one much the same, but laced with the air of violence Celeste carrries about herself. Of course, that's just her normal demeanor, so one probably oughtn't read much into it. The berserker crosses her arms over her chest as she waits.
Jormund cranes his neck trying to get a look at the notes, what with being verticaly challenged. "What does it say? Anything useful? Know what, doesn't matter. Lets just get over there, poke around and kick butt." he says with way too much enthusiasm.
<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "Alright. To keep things moving--we'll pause (ahaha) for 6-7 minutes (barring if Serraphine wants to pose again, from the paged infoz). It's dusktime, now. They're asking you to go in pretty much immediately; so, please make preparations and discuss ideas on LahChan. Then we'll pick up and move fast. :) You'll need a means to see in the dark, plus whatever your strategy and prep are."
Munch, "You know-" munch-munch, "It looks like they're covered areas 'n' evening. Maybe some sort'r trap, or maybe we can. Like... jump 'em." She nods her head and takes another bite as she looks about. She's back to chewing on the cookies as she waits to hear from them - another pause in the chewing - "Yeah, I think we should jump 'em. I can play bait." Chomp-munch-munch-munch.
Jormund grins "Yes! I can even set you up with a disguise to look more tempting. The rest of us can wait in ambush. This is a wonderful plan. Also can I beg a cookie off of you? You know, for a hungry halfling?" he says with a broad smile.
Serraphine offers several coffin-shaped cookies to Jormund, "Yeah!" She says with a nod, "That sounds like a great idea." Munch-munch-munch.
And so! The manor--that is, now museum--is impressive. Though not completely restored, that achievement (if articles posted to the Tribune are correct) is a lifetime's work.
The museum is composed of a CENTRAL, grand entry, then two wings on either side. The EAST wing contains a solarium, with an iron lattice exterior. Plants and vines interweave the lattice, creating a beautiful, garden effect.
The WEST wing of course, is where the kitchen and banquet hall...will be. On approach, you can see the grandly carved wall. At the furthest part however, that grand wall is still crumbled. The rubble is still choked with vines, which promises to make it difficult terrain. This is the area the workfolk were trying to repair.
This also, is the area "of concern." Shadows play on it, making it look more forlorn than it should be. But then, the abandoned workfolks' tables, benches, and latticeworks, kind of add to that effect.
You paged Serraphine with 'It all looks like difficult terrain. That's somewhat concerning. But, she expects there had been at least a small number of people here at all times. Someone could have come in through the wing, itse--no, no, they'd have had to gone past the people setting up exhibits, wouldn't they? If they were sneaky, maybe. There are also places to hide around the brambles, and other areas. It might be easiest to sneak in at night, and hide around the construction. That might be it. Plenty of shadowy spots.
Jormund eyes Serraphine while twirlin the tip of his mustache. "Well, well, well... workers... we need... dirt! Put your hood up and slouch." he says with a grin as he finds some dirt and throws it on her cloak, making sure to cover the symbol on the back. "Perhaps a splash of booze for the right ambient odor..." he says sprinkling her with his flash as if blessing her with holy water, except booze. "Hard work requires hard booze after all! Oh I love creating! And you should carry something heavy! Oh a big bag to cover that symbol up over your back! Get a sack of bricks!"
Celeste grunts softly, as the disguising of people begins. "You have a challenge ahead of you," she grumbles, folding her arms across her chest once again. "Namely, working out how to disguise a half-orc berzerker, complete with her arms and armor -- because I am *not* going to be leaving them behind."
Jormund grins at Celeste "Nah, I am just going to make all this..." he moves his hand in a circle. "... just dissapear."
Serraphine stands there while Jormund dresses her and eats more cookies whenever there's a chance. She gives a hunch to her shoulders and slings the back over her shoulder. She gives a jerk of her head toward the museum, "M'kay." Munch-munch-munch, who know where she gets all the cookies really, "I say we go for the construction side. And then I'll just wander in. You guys follow me, and jump 'em when they jump me, yeah?" Munch-munch-munch. And with that she sets off toward where she had said, stuffing the cookie into her mouth before holding the half bottle of booze that's filled instead with her holy water. Munch-munch-munch.
<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "So, Celeste the Invisible is going ahead. Jormund and Charlotte are hiding behind. Serraphine is disguised and going with Celeste the Invisible? (Just being sure I understand)."
The rubble crunches underfoot, reminding you all that the museum, as is much of Upper Alexandria, is built near or into the side of the Redridge Mountains. It looms ahead, grand and perhaps, it will be that tribute to local artists that the Kashanis hope.
Jormund and CHarlotte find a sace place to watch, around 35' away. For a while, nothing is heard but the crunch of boot over broken stone. However, then Celeste steps on something soft, underfoot. It then snaps, her foot going the rest of the way down. ...into a pile of rags? Serraphine looking down, can more clearly see it, of course. They both hear the crunch.
Dormachur was right. There's a thin arm sticking out from what looks like...raaaa...g...g...sss...
You paged (Serraphine, Celeste) with 'It's the body of an orphan, by the looks of it. His arm is pale and ridden with disease. He wasn't visible earlier due to how small and thin he is--and how covered in rags. He may s well be part of the scenery. ...as you're staring, the shadows around him begin to move towards Serraphine's boot. A dry, crackling whisper accompanies it, and his face turns, staring at you with dry sockets.
You paged Serraphine with '...these small undead are disease spirits. They're found in the shadows of orphanages and poor areas. They're created when Thul's embrace takes a child; there's a chance one of them might rise as these. The arvek took especial care of their dead, if these were about. The elders always said, "Be wary of the dead child's shadow."
Celeste is invisible. This does not sit well with the half-orc warrior, as marching into glorious battle while unable to actually be seen doing so isn't entirely compatible with her values, but she'll put up with it just this once -- for the children, of course. Invisibility can't quite hide the sound of her greaves crunching on the gravel, but sometimes you just have to make do.
Speaking of children, there is one; or at least, there was one, and the poor thing seems no longer to be alive. This appears to get Celeste's goat in no small way, and those nearby can hear a sword being drawn, and a low, feral growl issuing from her throat.
Serraphine lets go of the bag in her hand and with the slither of steel on leather draws free her bastard sword as she stares down at those rags. She glares at them, though it might not be clear to everyone why - except perhaps Celeste who can see she's glaring right back - Her mouth curves down more than usual. "DISEASE SPIRITS!" She says forcefully, "Thul's touch is here!" And quieter, "Bless these children, Serriel, they know not."
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ATTENTION -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Beaglefinder has dropped a TIMESTOP! Please +init, then cease all roleplay and actions immediately and wait for Beaglefinder to instruct you further. For in-combat commands, type: +thelp. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "It is dark out. So, please remember that. Charlotte, Jormund, you just heard Serraphine react. You two are hidden, about 30' away. We're kicking off with inits. ^^;"
GAME: Beaglefinder advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 13.
It is now Charlotte's turn! Celeste is next!
Serraphine has the bottle in her free hand, reaches up and throws it down at the creature that is reaching for her. "Serriel's might release you, innocent of old. Let go of Thul's influence." The bottle smacks the creature in the head, making a DONK noise before shattering and spraying it and the area about it with holy water. It recoils back in pain as the liquid hisses into the darkness like water evaporating from a hot plate.
You paged (Charlotte, Celeste) with 'As Charlotte moves towards you guys, the rag child hisses at her and tugs, attempting to move out from under Celeste's boot.
GAME: Beaglefinder advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 13.
It is now Celeste's turn! Jormund is next!
Hearing Serraphine yell, Charlotte immediately draws her sword and lights a torch. And she's glad she lights a torch. "CELESTE! UNDER YOUR FOOT!"
GAME: Beaglefinder advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 12.
It is now Jormund's turn! Serraphine is next!
You paged Serraphine with '...now you remember. Stories from the old sergeants. They'd carry silver holy symbols, and bury the children with silver coins. Then, dust the graves with salt. Maybe there was something to that. Maybe it's folklore.
Under her foot? What? The invisible Celeste snarls audibly, abruptly become un-invisible as her sword flashes through the air, biting deep into the body of the disease-slain child. "CURSE YOU POX FIENDS!!" she rages, eyes flashing menacingly as she glares about herself. She steps back, and rapdily drops to a crouch, bring her spiked shield down hard upon the corpse, shattering bone and leaving it... in bad shape. "THE CHILD DIES A WARRIOR, HONORED!!" she screams, rising and banging blade against bulwark, "*YOU* DIE AS FILTH!"
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Beaglefinder advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 20.
It is now Serraphine's turn! Rag Children is next!
Jormund eyes the pile from a distance, twirling his 'stash. "We need twice the mustache to deal with this!" he suddenly devides into two copies of himself as he raises his hand and a burst of energy erupts around him engulfing everyone. "Terrian has given us luck!"
Serraphine hears Charlotte's cry for attention, turning to look off that way for a moment, then back down toward the creature and she reaches up with a free hand to scratch at her chin. If only she had a beard, it would be a much more contemplative look. Instead it just looks confused, so she grabs another cookie. Munch-munch-munch-munch, "OH! Hey! Who's got some silver and salt. That might do the trick." Munch-munch-munch.
"You!"
"You!"
"...you!"
"No!"
"No!"
"...No!"
Three small figures rush the warrior. Their small forms stumble, but their shadows move faster--reaching for Celeste, who'd felled their 'mate.
GAME: Beaglefinder advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 19.
It is now Rag Children's turn! Charlotte is next!
GAME: Beaglefinder advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 13.
It is now Charlotte's turn! Celeste is next!
You paged Celeste with 'The child's shadow touches you. You feel Thul's embrace, but Celeste's own toughness fights it off. Tomorrow might be a different tale.
Charlotte tromps her way over towards one of the children surrounding celeste and stabs it. It doesn't do quite as much as as she likes, but it's more than doing nothing.
<OOC> Celeste says, "Going for the same one Charlotte damaged, obviously. :P"
<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "As you both work to drive them back, your weapons rend undead flesh. It's resistant to your attacks, though some of it pushes through."
GAME: Beaglefinder advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 12.
It is now Jormund's turn! Serraphine is next!
As Celeste rises, following the absolute crushing she has administered to the rag child before her, more of them come out of the woodwork. "COME TO ME!" she howls, giving not an inch of ground as they swarm her and claw at her flesh. "A WARRIOR'S DEATH FOR ALL OF YOU!!" As her own blood adds to the battlefield, the half-orc brings her blade down hard into one of the foes, rending flesh and bone alike; her shield just misses slamming another, before she brings it back to protect her core, grinding her teeth and snarling at the foes surrounding her.
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Beaglefinder advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 20.
It is now Serraphine's turn! Rag Children is next!
Jormund moves up as he moves his hand in a complex patern to cast a spell on the nearest... child thing. A shortsword appears above it and begins to stab, repeatidly.
GAME: Beaglefinder advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 19.
It is now Rag Children's turn! Charlotte is next!
"Serriel save you." Serraphine says as her left hand grabs the pommel, a step to the side and she throws her shoulder into the swing, changing the angle of the attack using that bottom hand on the hardened steel. She frowns, annoyance, and cuts into the undead child-like creature. The creature lets out a shriek of pain, but it really seemed to do a heck of a good job simply absorbing what should have been a deadly stroke.
You paged Serraphine with 'Thul's teeth close on you, sinking in as they had her ancestors before her. Serriel's light burns him away. It is only through Her grace you are not harmed (paladenic immunity to disease).
"No--!"
Moving as a swarm, the rag children flee/lunge towards Serraphine. Their hands grasp at her armor, their socket-eyes stare up at her. Their teeth are filled with Thul's rotting, adorable kisses.
Seeing them rush for Serraphine, Charlotte runs after them and stabs one of them through the neck.
GAME: Beaglefinder advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 12.
It is now Jormund's turn! Serraphine is next!
The screaming, howling Celeste, who apparently does not believe in fighting quietly, isn't about to let the rag children switch targets from here to Serraphine without incident; her sword flashes, skewering one of them through the belly. She stomps on the undead thing with her foot, crushing the rib-cage as she pulls her blade loose. "GLORY TO ALL OF YOU!" She snarls, flashing her blade through the air once more, cleaving head from neck and sending the small skull bouncing across the gravel walkway.
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Beaglefinder advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 20.
It is now Serraphine's turn! Rag Children is next!
Jormund holds up a hand again, a brief flash of light bursting all around him. "Tarien grant us fortune!" the light goes out like a wave all around him, healing people.
GAME: Beaglefinder advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 13.
It is now Charlotte's turn! Celeste is next!
Seeing its comrades fall one by one, the rag child makes a desperate lunge at Serraphine. Its clawlike hands scrape over her armor. Alarmed, it lurches back, scrabbling on the rocklike ground as it goes!
Serraphine's sword comes back up after her first cut, a twist as her blade comes up but not fast enough as they scratch her enough to make the blood flow. Thankfully, it seems she's saved by the might of her deity, an exhale as she watches them. The next falls and Serraphine steps in, her left hand grabbing the blade she slams it into the creature before grabbing the grip and yanking the sharpened edge along the neck of the creature. It's not enough to kill it, but it looks at least damaged from her attack.
GAME: Beaglefinder has cleared initiatives.
GAME: Beaglefinder removes the timestop.
Timestop by Beaglefinder has left.
GAME: You remove the timestop.
Charlotte runs after the last undead child and stabs it rather easily through the neck....then makes a slashing motion to fully decapitate it. "And now....you shall rest." She turns around to look at the others. "See any more?"
"...we didn't mean to."
"Miss?"
"...miss?"
The voices fade and the bodies crumble onto the rocky earth. Around you, the sound of mountain crickets resume. Charlotte's torch flickers, playing with the shadows. There are workbenches and rubble around you. And of course, the unfinished wall on the west wing of the museum.
You paged Charlotte with '...oh. That's what was...something had been bothering Charlotte. This manor had been abandoned for a long time. All sorts of homeless had moved into it, at one time or the other. Most recently, you'd heard rumor of a band of children. This is likely them, or what remains of them. Refugee children, from Dragonier.
You paged Serraphine with 'If the rag children are gone, the diseases they carried with them would vanish, as well. She isn't sure they got every ragchild...sometimes they travel in packs, once raised. ...but, if they return with salt, and soon, they can bless the area with it. She remembers some of the words her elders had said, enough to make a guess.
You paged Celeste with 'Celeste looks around; her darkvision helps, once she steps out of range of the torch. There are definitely places to hide, out here. She doesn't see anything immediately, but...
You paged Celeste with 'A construction place like this could be a child's playground.
Charlotte sighs a bit. "Homeless children......and refugees from dragonier. They must've been part of some sort of ritual or something, then allowed to come here before the ritual festered...."
You paged Jormund with 'Everything looks wonderful! And there! There is a bluebird of happiness! It looks like Sandy. >.>
Serraphine reaches up and starts scratching at her chin again, her other hand puts the tip of the sword in the scabbard at her hip and lets the sword slide back into it with another sound of slithering steel. Munch-munch-munch who knows where she even was hiding that one. She gestures with the coffin cookie though at the dead child-like bodies on the ground. "Salt. Salt 'n' silver on the eyes." More gesturing as if to say the whole ground nearby.
"All over, 'n' then I think I remember some of the words to bind them back to their final rest." Another bite of the cookie as she looks around at the group... and offers one to Jormund.
Jormund strokes his chin in thought "You know. This is clearly the work of... of someone evil! To have travelers come to such a fate is terrible! You know and... I am geting kinda hungry. Got more cookies?"
Serraphine waves the cookie in front of Jormund again, waiting for him to take it.
Celeste whirls, growling like a beast; for a moment it looks like she might try to take Charlotte's head off, as well, but then the fire subsides in her eyes and she exhales, resting her sword-hand on her knee and panting. "I know you didn't mean to," she half-whispers. "I forgive you." She straightens, and her greaves carry her away from the torchlight as she gazes about. "More. There could be more. There almost certainly *are* more." She pauses, and sucks in her breath. "Come forth, children! If you are alive. We will not harm you."
Jormund looks up, clearly zoning out a little before taking the cookie. "Right! Um... orphans. Evil." he says chewing thoughfully.
In response to Celeste's plea--the silence, then chirp of mountain crickets. There is a...small noise, however. A shifting sound. Perhaps not now, or not yet. But...
<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "Ok. It is late, so I am going to go ahead and wrap us up. Then, if you like, please go ahead and include a pose about how/if your character participates in the final act that Serraphine'd described. Celeste, I'll have some closeout for you, also. ^^;"
Dragonier refugees? The lady is horrified when you return with the news that Charlotte had discerned. She turns nearly as pale as the glass she's so reputed to enjoy. Getting supplies--the salt Serraphine mentioned--is no issue. Through her and Jormund's respective temple connections, you are able to make your way back out with the salt, and some minor priests or two. Certainly some acolytes, though, it's enough with what you've learned.
In the end, you find one child, grubby and shaken. Her red curls are the color of soot from hiding, her eyes sunken from starvation. Celeste, who'd looked for them, is able to take her in and see her fed, at least. From there--it is up to you. The Altheans may be a place.
Jormund sits down to ponder the problem, munching on a cookie thoughtfully. "Well thats trouble, sure as sure. Nobody should be acosted, doubly so refugees, triply on the road and fourthly as children! And Fithly... well I will come up with something. Like bless refugees. With wine."