Investigation: 5

Paren looks over the dead animals. "What is happening in this town? Also, did anyone see the guard captain as we rushed past on our way here? Looked like something had befallen her."

Paren doesn't notice anything of note beyond what was mentioned before. 

Investigation check: 18

Tanni can tell that the beasts all have a similar faint red dust covering their paws. The dust seems comparable to the clay that the Red Cliffs are famous for. The animals are clearly malnourished as though they haven't eaten for days. This seems odd as Tanni noticed small game rushing in at the same time as the larger creatures. She's left to assume that they either chose to not eat or were forced to not eat. For what reason, she's uncertain. 

She pushes one of the boars with her warhammer. The bloated pig oozes a thick purple blood that Tanni is certain isn't right. They smell even worse than she'd come to expect boars to smell as if they were rotting. 

Finan recoils as he sees the blood, and immediately looks up at the others and the guards involved in cleaning up the mess. "Be careful with the blood. There is something unnatural at work here, too. Do not taste it, try not to touch it if you can! If you have wounds, leave and let others work!"

He gives Paren a glance, checking for any sign of the madness settling in, especially given that peculiar outburst as they were fighting off the animals, then lets his eyes further scan the surroundings of the battle.

Mechanics:

Paren looks up from where he's examining the corpses. "Something seems wrong. The entity is quiet, like I've lost my connection. And Finan, look at this dust on the fur, it's the same as the boxes." He suddenly stands up and redraws his rapier. "Something's moving inside this boar!"

As Finan looks about, he can see that the battle is well and done. There appears to be no further threat at the gate and the guards have hastily started repairs. Skills craftspeople have begun to assist with fashioning replacement planks of wood where the old wood had shattered. Their speed is quite impressive and that's when you remember that the most skills people from across the entire region are gathered here in one city. They'll be able to make the repairs quickly and most likely have the gate stronger than it was before. 

The fallen beasts lay in the middle of the road where your crew was able to stop most of them. The guards had started to come and assist with the cleanup but quickly step back and away at Finan's warnings. The hyenas and boars all seem to have a fine red dusting in their fur and on their paws. You notice that the hyenas' paws were rather torn from what looks like wounds from digging. As things settle, you spot movement out of the corner of your eye. The bellies of the boars shift in an unnatural movement very faintly at first. 

Paren's sparks more alarm in Finan and those gathered around. The guards take another step back unsure of what they're to do. Many of the guards scatter toward the cries in the town square.

Finan whimpers softly as he sees the details come together. The red dust, Peran's words, the wounds on the hyena's paws, and now the subtle motion in the boars' bellies. Little good could come of this, but something told him that perhaps it was best dealt with quickly.

With a sharp intake of breath he hopes to avoid breathing in any of the dust as he moves in closer to the boar corpse closer to him, and in one swift motion retrieves the dagger stowed away in his boot. With one last look at his companions, signalling them to get ready for anything, he drags the blade across the furry skin to free whatever it is that is moving inside.

The moment that follows would be considered disgusting by the most hardened undertaker. The incision slowly tears apart as the purple blood oozes from the opening. From the opening countless tiny spiders burst from the seam and immediately cover the boar. The stomachs of the other boars pulse as if their contents are attempting to free themselves. 

What do you do?

Paren backs away and looks like he's going to be sick.

Finan's eyes grow wide, then with a loud cry he scrambles away from the corpse in full panic, awareness of the danger of the red dust completely faded from his mind as he simply seeks to create distance between him and the blood-covered spiderlings.

Tanni's eyes grow wide, disgusted by the sight of numerous spiders bursting forth, and with a suprised yell smashes her warhammer at the spiders climbing out of the boar's stomach.

(May as well roll a late Investigation: 2)

"Egads!" Jonathan takes a step back, holding his rapier at the ready, then rethinking how well a thrusting weapon will do against countless tiny spiders. "Quick, someone pass a large club of some sort."

Tanni smashes her warhammer into the clump of spiders sending tiny spiderlings scattered in all directions and leaving a mass of spider goop where her hammer struck. 

The countless spiders quickly snap their facing towards the towns square. 

In the distance, you can hear the cries of the people gathered in the town square. A rumble can be felt as the earth below you trembles with force. Crowds begin fleeing from the town square in your direction, clashing with the hoard of spiders and boar carcasses. There is general terror on their faces. 

If no one brings him a decent bludgeoning weapon, Jonathan scoffs. "To think I'd have to sully my boots further." He rushes over and uses his foot to stamp some spider groups.

Seeing the people flee and remembering that some got past them Paren begins to move towards downtown. "Looks like something else is happening downtown."

As Jonathan steps down on the mass of spiders, they begin to crawl up his leg engulfing his calf with tiny stinging bites. The discomfort isn't nearly as unsettling as having his leg completely covered by the mass. The spiders crunched under his boot with each step he took. The discomfort slowly turned to burning as the bites sank deeper and deeper into his flesh.  ((Roll a CON save))

Paren fights against the crowd as he moves towards the town square. The loud rumbles of earth only grew louder as he approached. Rising above the fleeing festival goers, Paren can see the mass of earth and mud smashing against the facade of the shrine. Large slabs of marble are being pulled from the structure as it tries to rip into the sanctuary. 

Paren looks around trying to find Falaine.

Perception: 16

"Paren, wait!" Finan cries out after the man. For a moment he is stuck between sticking with his companions still battling the spiders and chasing after Paren and Falaine, but the general terror on the faces of those running past sways him. He never claimed to be of hardier stuff than another, but he had gained some measure of confidence in his own skill over the years. That, coupled with a somewhat fatalistic sense that his life was worth less than that of the many, instilled enough courage to start making his way against the torrent of townsfolk.

For each step forward he reaches out to a different God, beseeching each of them in turn and his fingers working subconsciously to create some of the wards associated with the various deities.
"Camiela, shield me from harm. Talos, help me understand what in the blazes is happening. Shamara, aid these poor people. Sorata, steel my blade and my heart should I find need of it. Grusk, if you're listening, lend me your strength. Aiden, you blasted bastard, impart upon me some of your tricks to save me this day. And Lugh. Get it together! What are you doing?!"