[Game Thread] Chapter 1: For Love or Money

[KronosWarrior]

Drognan agreed with the Elf, "Yes, we should check it out, at least to see if it's suitable for sleeping in." He didn't fancy sleeping in a cave but at least they wouldn't have to trek back and forth if it was suitable enough and not occupied. Drognan glanced at Sylvia. Hmmph, at least she gets free rides now.

[DukeofTuring]

"The cave then", Marcus agrees as the party begins moving towards the cavern. He shifts his weapon off his shoulders and into both hands, ready for a fight.

[dbaque]

Relief at shelter from the looming storm is put aside for the moment as Lunigen moves towards the front rank near Marcus, wary eyes fixed on the cave and javelin at the ready. When the party approaches within 60' of the cave, Lunigen will concentrate on Detect evil (sp), 60' cone.sensing any fell presences inside.

[Glenn Coco]

Once again Groz was perfectly fine with letting the party take control. All he wanted at this point was a good fight and it seemed like that was never going to happen. Seeing the cave that the others pointed to, Groz readied his battleaxe. He really hoped that there would be someone or something to fight, if not bandits then perhaps a bear. Either were fine with Groz. His anticipation lead him toward the front of the group, Groz wanted to be the one to draw first blood.

[darthcharon]

As you approach the cave, the scent of fresh blood assails your nose. Readying for combat, you proceed further. The cave is dark, but enough light makes it from the mouth of the cave to illuminate the room, and show you a most grisly sight. A total of eight people occupy this room besides from you. Or rather, eight corpses. Half of them look like they were slain in their sleep, based on the fact that they are all lying on pallets and all of them have similar wounds that appear to have been caused by someone stabbing them with a bladed weapon and then twisting the weapon in the wound. Three other corpses died with weapons in their hand, though all of these have had their heads removed and thrown against the wall, and a fourth final body has his head and shoulders stuck in a hole near the back wall of the cave.

[KronosWarrior]

Drognan winced and wrinkled his nose as the smell of the dead hit him. Sylvia couldn't stand the smell and retreated into his backpack. "Well, how...unfortunate...let's see if I can give us a bit more light." He reached into his pouch and took what he needed. Holding his staff, he whispered a word at it and the staff started glowing. "That's better I think, I'm not one for messing with the fallen so let's see if I can find anything else."

Drognan walked around the cave with his illuminated staff, searching for any clue as to what happened. He made sure to avoid accidentally moving or touching the slain.

[DukeofTuring]

"Sigmar preserve us", Marcus intones as he enters the cave alongside Drognan. He also searches for clues among the dead, searching the bodies if he sees no signs of disease or traps. "Our bandits, do you think? Can't be many armed groups of humans this far out here." Marcus particularly looks for any sign of Bela's daughter.

[Quadra Wield]

Holly enters the cave, putting her hand over her mouth and nose to try to filter out the smell of blood and decay. These men must have been the bandits, what other armed humans were out here?

"Pretty sure you are right, these were probably the bandits. Maybe we should have gone after the creatures."

Holly frowns, wrinkles her brow in disgust for the smell, and searches the cave for any signs of Bela's daughter, any sign of the attackers, or the similarities between these deaths and the death of Ned and the caravan attack. Afterwords she leans over the bodies and tries to determine the nature of the wounds, and she searches the bandits for anything related to Bela's daughter or information on the attackers.

[darthcharon]

[DukeofTuring]

Without saying anything to any of his companions first, Marcus stops inspecting one of the bodies and raises his holy symbol, intoning, "Sigmar, preserve the life of this man, righteous or not, so that your servants may question him and thereby succeed in our task." Turning to everyone else, Marcus explains, "This man's still alive. We'll see what he has to say" Marcus turns back to the injured stranger to see if he regains consciousness.

"Also, the bodies are still warm, so this was all pretty recent." , he adds. "And they've got tattoos. The same kind as our blacksmith."

[Quadra Wield]

As Holly is inspecting the bodies she notices the tattoo the bandits have, the gold coin being pierced by an arrow, the same that Ned had. Holly stands up after inspecting the bodies and replies back to Marcus, "If these guys have the same tattoo Ned had, maybe Ned was part of this gang?"

Holly raises an eyebrow when Marcus says that a man was still alive. It seemed like whoever or whatever the attackers were, they were efficient. Leaving a man alive was either sloppiness on their part, or they wanted to keep a man alive to tell the tale. Holly leans against one of the walls, crossing her arms across her chest, and waits for either the unconscious man to wake up and speak. Or for the group to decide on another course of action.

[punkrockguy]

Grimnash wandered around the bodies taking a good look, as Holly mentions that maybe Ned had been part of the gang Grimnash turns to will, and says "my good lad, can you tell us when Ned set up store and how long ago these bandit attacks started? I know you probably don't want to consider this but maybe Ned was supplying the bandits with weapons in return for safe passage through the lands and a cut in the takings?" after asking the question he waits for the boys answer, letting the others mull over what he had theorised.

[Insacrum]

Upon entering the cave and seeing the dead bodies, Ollona begins to wonder just what exactly the group had gotten into. Seeing three of her compatriots make moves to inspect the bodies, Ollona decides to avoid doing so. If everyone was looking at dead bodies, who would be on the lookout for what make the bodies dead in the first place.

Ollona stays stationed in a spot where she has a good look over the group and what they are doing. She doesn't want to possibly miss something attacking anyone.

[darthcharon]

Wil, who at the smell of blood had decided not to throw up again and remain outside, hesitates. Finally, he shouts back. "I don't understand. Ned was born and raised here, far as I know. He disappeared for about ten years I hear when he went on his grand adventure, but... You don't suppose he joined the bandits during that time do you? That would explain why he wasn't afraid of them, and why he set up his shop outside. But if he was one of them, why the hell did he stay in town instead of joining them whenever they ambushed people? Unless," Wil goes silent.

Meanwhile, the man Marcus began to heal groans. Though his magic helped, he is still clearly in need of more attention. "Where... who... Julianne!" he shouts suddenly, standing up far too fast, and howls in pain, clutching his ruptured side, before falling back again, his fickle hold on consciousness lost once again.

[Insacrum]

Ollona, now not liking the direction that Marcus's healing is going, walks over to him, as well as his unconscious 'patient'. She pulls something out of the side of her backpack, handing it to Marcus, "Perhaps this will help him?"

She hands over to Marcus a fresh wand of cure light wounds. "Please make sure to give that back when you're done, if you don't mind."