Above & Below

"Steel my stomach against this," Effort says as she touches her forehead, giving herself guidance.  Then she carefully climbs down into the ditch, trying not to inhale too deeply.  She picks her way through the splatter to closely inspect the body.  "He was working for the city.  He may have supplies on him.  Supplies we can use," Effort explains with a grunt as she digs through the dead man's possessions.  "We are short on resources and he certainly won't need them anymore... if there's anything to find at all."

Investigation: 25

(Effort finds the secrets of the Universe in that man's pockets XD)

(I'm more afraid she'll find exactly what organs he's missing and where he put them, LOL)

Heh, laughs Brask at the sight of the dead man.  Looks like hiding's not the way to go, eh?  

Effort easily finds a healer's kit and a half-filled wineskin on the fallen soldier. She also discovers a small pouch sewn into his clothes that holds 12 gold pieces. While in the ditch, her morbid curiosity gets the better of her. Inspecting his wounds, she finds that not only was he seemingly cut or slashed open, but he also seems to have pieces torn or bitten off his side. There is also a bit of splattered blood on his hands and chest that seems darker than that around his wounds. Perhaps he did some damage before he was ultimately overcome. Her thoughts are interrupted by a crow cawing in one of the trees above the body, waiting for its turn at the buffet.

(Out of curiosity, does Effort still carry the evil cursed dagger that Promise used to teleport the group, or is that gone?  I ask because she's having weight problems XD)

Climbing out of the ditch with some difficulty, Effort huffs and leans on her knees, catching her breath, once she's out.  "Someone needs to take this," she says, holding out the healer's kit she found.  "I've got my own already, and these can be useful in case one of you falls over.  Even Pip might be able to utilize this effectively.  But it's too heavy for me to carry two of them."

The half-filled wineskin she wordlessly gives to Brask.  The coins, she pockets, telling the others, "He had some gold on him.  It wasn't much, but it is not as though gold actually has any value in this wilderness."  (Kurama and Brask can add 4 GP to their inventory)

Casting one last look into the pit, she turns and informs the others of her findings.  "Likely some sort of animal, if what I saw was correct," she says.  "Kurama, do you think you could find what direction this fellow dragged himself in from?  Hopefully not the one we want to be walking in, otherwise we may run into whatever did him in."

Effort will send Cadmael to scout in the air, hopefully in a direction Kurama can point him, but if not, just in a radius from the ditch.  She scratches the bird on his head before sending him up.
Cadmael Perception:  15 + 4 Guidance

I believe Promise copied the rune from the dagger, so you probably still have it.

(And still don't know what it does, haha)

Quote from Enkida >>

(Out of curiosity, does Effort still carry the evil cursed dagger that Promise used to teleport the group, or is that gone?  I ask because she's having weight problems XD)

Climbing out of the ditch with some difficulty, Effort huffs and leans on her knees, catching her breath, once she's out.  "Someone needs to take this," she says, holding out the healer's kit she found.  "I've got my own already, and these can be useful in case one of you falls over.  Even Pip might be able to utilize this effectively.  But it's too heavy for me to carry two of them."

The half-filled wineskin she wordlessly gives to Brask.  The coins, she pockets, telling the others, "He had some gold on him.  It wasn't much, but it is not as though gold actually has any value in this wilderness."  (Kurama and Brask can add 4 GP to their inventory)

Casting one last look into the pit, she turns and informs the others of her findings.  "Likely some sort of animal, if what I saw was correct," she says.  "Kurama, do you think you could find what direction this fellow dragged himself in from?  Hopefully not the one we want to be walking in, otherwise we may run into whatever did him in."

Effort will send Cadmael to scout in the air, hopefully in a direction Kurama can point him, but if not, just in a radius from the ditch.  She scratches the bird on his head before sending him up.
Cadmael Perception:  15 + 4 Guidance

 "I can hold onto the healing kit."  Kurama offered, "Though perhaps if there's ever time, I can try and teach Pip how to use one properly.  I'm no expert but I have studied the basics of humanoid anatomy and feel confidant I can impart the basics onto Pip or anyone else interested in learning.  It's truly quite fascinating how delicate and durable our bodies can be.  I..." he stopped himself short when he realized he was about to go on a rather rambling monologue discussing the differences between human and minotaur anatomy.  Another time, he thought to himself as he then began to search for any notable tracks coming or leaving the pit.

• Perception?: 25

That would be good, Brask comments on Kurama's suggestion of training Pip.  The minotaur is also focused more on watching the surrounding area for threats, rather than investigating the corpse which he's sure Effort has covered.  However, he also knows he's not the greatest lookout. Perception 2

He also spends a few minutes making circles in the air with his maul, happy that he feels his skills have developed and his attacks will be stronger in future.

Kurama, you're able to find faint traces of blood that lead you across the road and into the forest beyond. The instances become so small and far between that you're not able to follow them for long, though. It seems that whatever happened, probably happened somewhere deeper in the forest, with the soldier finding his way out to the road only to die there.

Cadmael starts to head up on his scouting mission, banking right and looking off into the woods. He narrows his focus as Kurama begins to follow the trail of blood. Not much to see up here...no movement, Cadmael thinks. Wait! Further up...another body, perhaps. Strange shape among the brambles. Not moving.

"There may be another body up ahead," Effort tells the others, pointing in the direction Cadmael flew.  "He also spotted shapes among the brambles.  They're not moving, but that means nothing here... it could be what killed those men."

She makes an effort to lighten her footsteps as they continue to walk, but not being any particular survivalist, only manages a middling job of it: Stealth 10 (7 + 3 Guidance)

"Potentially but it could be something else entirely.  Whatever happened to that man most likely occurred deeper in the forest."  Kurama commented after relaying what he had discovered before following Effort towards the next body on the road.

• Stealth: 20

As they get nearer to the area where Cadmael spotted the body, Effort will cast guidance on herself just in case something lies in wait to attack them.

Brask follows the others, making absolutely no effort to be stealthy.

(Though I hope Pip would... try to be stealthy that is)

As you leave the road and make your way through the trees, you hear the caws of a small murder of crows behind you. They drop down onto the road and slowly hop over to the ditch, descending to dine on the fallen soldier.

Ahead, the shape in the brambles becomes more and more humanoid. As you approach, you realize it's the other soldier - the shorter, burlier one with heavier armor. From this distance, it's tough to see through the tangle of thorny branches, but it appears he has a wound on his neck. Dried blood adorns his facial hair.

"Seems we found soldier #2."  Kurama commented when the body came into view.  "I do not like the woman's chances from earlier of escaping with serious harm..." he added as he scanned the area for clues on what might've killed the man.

• Perception: 10

Effort frowns, then turns towards the odd shapes Cadmael had warned her about and squints at them, but can't make out anything but bushes.  "Be careful... what are those shapes there?"

Perception: 1

Yeah, this place ain't friendly.  Stick close, and get ready, Brask growls, looking to make sure Pip is nearby, and he then looks over at the shapes that Effort indicates.