The Quest of the Missing Quill

[Just_Ice]

Benji clears his throat, haven been in deep thought about how best to songify the Exorcism of the Bovines. "Oh, right, introductions. I'd been enjoying our little tacit teamwork without knowledge of one another's names, but I'm sure the novelty would wear off in time. I'm Benjamin Des-Chemins, and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Benjamin heads to aid with mooving the cowrcasses,

"Oh," He says, waving over his nose, "You can't holy out the smell, then. This smells worse than my last bugleist."

[Vrindlevine]

Ishan sighs before grabbing at one of the cows legs and pulling with a pop the leg snaps off and he stumbles back. Waving the leg at Zurgo before dropping it he steps back and turns to Gaheris, "I was going to wait and explain on the way to the first lair which is to the north and a little west, that's the one I engaged. The second I can track but I have no way of knowing if its just a ritual spot like on the road or a full grown necropolis though I believe even I wouldn't have missed that."

"When your ready and we've moved these cows we can go take a look. I'd prefer the first one then the second, but it's up to you."

[JadedDM]

Gaheris nods. "No, I agree. We should tackle the nearer one first. Hopefully we can get the jump on them. And this time we have a cleric on our side to help."

[Haahque]

Everyone, North of Brook's farm
“Well the wildlife will find them no matter what we do, so we better move them off the property. However, I’d rather they attract vultures to wolves, so let’s not burn them.” Brooks agrees, and grabs a handful of cow. That his he grabs for a dead zombie cow to move it, but it comes apart as he pulls, leaving him with just a handful of dead meat. The dead zombie cows stink, and they look gross.

Transporting the cows isn’t a problem, they easily come part into small enough pieces that everyone (that’s willing to help) can pitch in and move the cows. There’s a fair number of them, and the edge of the property isn’t exactly close by, but many hands makes light work and the job is eventually finished to the satisfaction of the farmer.

Then the group makes its way to the spot Ishan had found before. It’s an old abandoned shack that’s been boarded up, but the door’s been forced open, some boards on the inside still attempt to block the path, the nails that once upon a time were lodged in the door now just pultrude out of them dangerously. There’s a fair bit of dust on the floor, except for one path from the door to a trap door in the ground. The entire shack is only about fifteen feet by twenty feet large.

“I always suspected this shack was haunted, never seen the door open before. I guess that means they must be inside.” Brooks eyes the shack wearily, but doesn’t break his stride towards it, crossbow loaded. “I say we go down there and give those cultists hell.”

[Just_Ice]

"T'would be easier surely to make their lair merely inescapable," Benji suggests, trying to rub the taint of undead cow out on the grass, "But it wouldn't be terribly sporting. It seems we'll have the drop on our enemy, so long as the holy man stays at the aft of things."

[JadedDM]

"Not very big," Gaheris notes. "My guess is they're down that trap door there." He approaches the building carefully, keeping an eye out for any traps they might have set to ward off intruders. He peers through the door to see if he can see anything (or anyone) inside.

[HorizonsDream]

Jasmine's hands twitch as she places them on her swords. Though, she patiently waits for Gaheris to do his search.

[keymeister16]

"Anblick Der Mojo" (detect magic) Zurgo unsheathed his axe. "get ready..." he growled.

[Vrindlevine]

Ishan moves into the shack as he peers trying to figure out if the cultists left, "Best be on your guard I don't know if they decided to pack up shop or stay they could have thought I was just a lone man I suppose, they may have "acquired" new corpses lets keep our warriors up front I'll take the rear." He turns to the farmer. "You don't need to accompany us sir, er Brook we can handle this civilians should stay safe and the village needs its tradesman perhaps more then ever."

As he strings his bow he nods satisfied with his companions while not quite as excellent as an Imperial dervish squad with sniper support he was pleased nonetheless.

[Haahque]

The party investigates the shack closer (see map below), Ishan advances into the building while Gaheris scans it for signs of any traps, but nothing seems out of the ordinary for an abandoned shack that he can tell. Zurgo and Kannock seem to have different opinions however. The half-orc finds that there’s an abundance of magic nearby, given a little time to focus the spell he figures out that it’s coming from underground, and that it’s necromantic in nature. Kannock seems to smell evil and advances purposely towards the trapdoor to the stairs. Ishan confirms these suspicions as he indicates that there are voices coming from downstairs.

This all is well enough for brooks to advance aggressively as well. "Let's hit those bastards so hard they never knew what hit them." He suggests in a voice barely quiet enough to qualify as a whisper.

Zurgo casts detect magic: He senses magic, lots of it.
Gaheris searches for traps (perception): 14, he doesn’t find any traps.
Ishan tries to determine if the cultists are still here or if they left (Perception): 17, he hears voices from down the trap door.

[JadedDM]

Gaheris frowns as Ishan steps inside the shack. He shrugs. "Guess there are no traps," he mutters quietly. "Let me scout things out first," he offers. "Make sure we aren't walking into a situation we can't easily get out of. If I yell out, charge in behind me."

Gaheris will sneak down the stairs in the hopes to find out how many are down there and what the situation is, hopefully without being detected.

[HorizonsDream]

Jasmine steps inside the shack, but she allows Gaheris to do his job. ~He better be careful,~ she thinks to herself.

[keymeister16]

"move," The lumbering orc whispered as he stepped in front of the stairs as politely as an orc could given the stealthy situation, tactless and almost crushing Ben's toes. "when they catch him, i'll 'take point', as you humans call it, 'Fliegen,Winzorn' " his axe shimmered, red and green runes glinting in the shadows of the shack.

(move to charge position at the top of the stairs, arcane pool as swift; +1/+1)

[Vrindlevine]

"Whoops I forgot to mention I'd been inside before, there will be a long hallway with a door on your left about halfway down and a door at the end."

Nocking an arrow on his bow Ishan moves to let Gathers pass by before falling in behind Zurgo, "I'll shoot any mages you want zombie chop duty?"

"Oh and try to take some alive, information is always useful.

[Just_Ice]

Benji graciously sidesteps for his tougher companion. He can't play his music without giving their position away, and his other weapons might be useless, so he plans to stay in behind until things are underway. "I'll get a better view of the heroics from here, anyways," he considers. (Allow Zurgo passage by, move only to be second or third-last in line.)