Play@YSDC

Anakunaisi, Claudius and a couple others retrieve their comrade's body and begin the work of burying him. A brief examination reveals that he was most likely drowned by his captors and left to float.

Wruter:

OOC:   Spot Hidden 50%[dice]0[/dice]

But Fenn cannot determine the attackers' path and goes to rejoin the others, ready to move on.

Now that the body is properly buried, Claudius also looks for the tracks of whoever dumped him there, but without success.

OOC,Track roll (50% skill) looking for the killers' tracks: [dice]0[/dice]

Anakunaisi
Tracking 10%
[dice]0[/dice]

Anakunaisi is not an experienced tracker.

He refills his water skin from the stream, and is ready to continue their journey.

Unable to find any sign of the those who abducted and drowned their ally, the remainder of the scouting party continues deeper into the Border Kingdom. The day passes in tense silence, everyone to on edge and listening for the sounds of ambushers. By sunset the group reaches the base of a steep hill, on top of it sits the ruins of the Acheronian keep that is the end goal of this expedition. From here it doesn't look like much.

Fenn looks to Arethus for their orders. "Do we go in now or wait for Lord Theophanes? Given the hostility we have encountered it may be prudent to at least scout the perimeter."

Anakunaisi agrees with Fenn, and is ready to go scouting.

Claudius nods and joins them.

Once everyone has gathered around Arethus he says, "Staying in one spot has yet to work out in our favor. We wait only long enough for the cover of night and then everyone one of us will go. If there's anyone there we'll be the ones taking them by surprise, Mitra willing."

Once the sun has set, and the scouting party's eyesight have adjusted to the darkness they creep their way up, moving as fast as they dare while staying quiet. Reaching the keep the group finds themselves in the remains of a palisade wall, and a few other rotting wooden structures. The two buildings which stand are a made of stone, and the scouting party judges them to be a great hall and a small temple. The remains of the keep seem to be abandoned.

"We should explore the smaller buildings first," says Claudius quietly. "Then the keep. This place has seen better days, but it looks more defensible than staying out in the open. Of course, someone else may have come here first with the same thought."

Fenn agrees, muttering, "Surely these artifacts that Lord Theophanes wishes to retrieve have long since been looted."

The party turns toward the smallish, angular temple. A building like this would not be an uncommon sight in a keep so removed from the rest of the world, and it seems like that any unlooted valuables would be in there. Entering the building the scouts finds themselves in the outer court, where the lower class men and women would have worshipped. It's big enough for all of them to stand comfortably, but the musty smell and ruined wooden furniture makes the room seem claustrophobic. Beyond this room is the inner hall where the lord of the manner and his family would have paid homage to their gods.

"We should proceed to the inner hall," suggests Claudius. "Anything of interest is more likely to be there."

Fenn mutters agreement and suggests Paulus and the other Nemedian scouts keep watch at the main doorway while they proceed inward. He has his sword drawn, not liking this place, listening intently for any stir of enemy activity.

OOC:   Listen 40%[dice]0[/dice]

Fenn, Claudius, and Anakunaisi enter the inner hall of the temple. It looks as though it has been converted from its original purpose to a mausoleum. There are six sarcophagi in the room, one of which is more ornate than the others, and is placed towards the back of the hall whereas the other five are closer to the door the three warriors have entered through. Fenn hears the noise of soft footfalls moving quickly. Before he can alert the other two all three hear, from a darkened corner of the room, "Hail strangers, what brings you here?"

Anakunaisi

"We are travellers. Saw this place of worship... Decided to honor the gods of the land, might they grant us safe passage."

While Anakunaisi is speaking Fenn peers warily around the interior of the hall for any hidden attackers, feeling they may have walked into a trap.

OOC:   Spot Hidden 50%[dice]0[/dice]

Claudius believes that Mitra is the only true god, though he says nothing. He too looks around.

OOC,Spot Hidden roll (55% skill) in the inner hall: [dice]0[/dice]

None of the trio see any sign of an impending ambush. Disturbingly, although the room is not well lit, there doesn't appear to be anywhere for a person or group of people to hide. Including the identity-less voice which says, "Travelers in this place are a rarity, and no one has come to this building to honor any god in a while."

Claudius steps forward. "I am not familiar with your gods," he says. "Can you tell me about them?"