"That was probably the most reasonable animal that's approached us so far.  So hard to stay mad about the situation."  Tries to murder you, tries to murder you, tries to find your cookies.  A bit of a gap there in standards.

Joey and Grall don't have much to say on the topic.  The following day's exploring yields something of interest...

t. d eAd u nicorn (S tAndArd )
The stink of moldering plants and a strange quiet in the
sound of birdlife surrounds a somewhat sunken clearing
in the woods here. At the center of the clearing, the soggy
ground becomes an insect-infested, stagnant, swamp-like
pond, and sprawled at the pond’s southern edge is what
appears to be a dead horse. Further investigation reveals
the creature to be a dead unicorn, its horn broken off at
the brow and its body strangely untouched by insects or
other necrophages. The stink of mold comes not from the
body, which is weirdly odorless, but from the fouled water
of the pond.

An examination of the unicorn reveals no obvious
cause of death, although the creature’s eyes are milky
and sightless, indicating the creature was blind at the
time of its death. A DC 20 Heal check confirms that the
creature’s horn was removed after its death, and that the
lack of obvious wounds would indicate the unicorn was
likely slain by some form of death effect.
The fact that the bugs and scavengers don’t seem
interested in the body is a mystery, although a DC 30
Knowledge (the planes) check recalls Spoiler

Speaking to
animals about the dead unicorn reveals only that Spoiler

Detect magic reveals
a faintly lingering necromancy aura, identifiable as
being caused by Spoiler with a DC 33 Knowledge
(arcana) check.

The unicorn itself had the unfortunate fate of Spoiler
If the PCs can arrange to
have the unicorn resurrected it can certainly tell them
more about its killer. Speak with dead is
a more affordable line of inquiry, although results should
be evasive.

OOC: This is a song for a holiday created in another game...

10 days of Reclaimation.

On the first day of Reclaimation my true love gave to me
A Stag Lord kneeling to me.
On the second day of Reclaimation my true love gave to me
Two captured thieves.
On the third day of Reclaimation my true love gave to me
Three packs of wolves.
On the fourth day of Reclaimation my true love gave to me
Four spider swarms
On the fifth day of Reclaimation my true love gave to me
Five bags of gold
On the sixth day of Reclaimation my true love gave to me
Six Greenbelt bandits

7-12 not yet written.

Shelly and Tread are upset by this sight. Tread says, "A unicorn... they're real. And I find out only be finding a dead one."

Shelly says, "I find it a bit odd the insects have no interest in the body."

  It is a little known fact that Unicorn hair is a powerful pesticide.

  "So, shall we give the magic horse a proper burial then?"

Grall grunts.  "If it's important enough to ya, I can help with the diggin.  But I ain't touchin nothin so cursed that even flies won't touch it."

Joey hmms.  "Probably best we not touch it.  I'm a little worried it might become a zombie.  Burial is a preventative but not as certain as cremation.  But this is a fey creature and may not have wanted to be buried or cremated in life."

He says a quick prayer for guidance.  "I get the impression that it won't make any difference if we bury, cremate, or leave the body as it is."

A brief gust of wind blows and on the wind are whispers.

Shelly says, "This place is bad. Let's go."

Tread hugs herself and nodnods.

---

Sorry I took forever to post. I couldn't think of anything more profound than that for my characters to say or do.

  "A zombie unicorn.  A few weeks ago that would have sounded crazy, but now it just seems kind of average."

  He looks to Joey, "If it makes no difference either way, then at the very least cremation means nothing more curious than bugs will eat it. I somehow doubt the circle of life gets as forgiving an outlook from local vengeful nature gods when it comes to a fancy magical horse."

"Yes, lets," Joey agrees with Shelly, heading away from the corpse, "Leave well enough alone is the only option that can't be misinterpreted as defiling the body.  Especially now that the oracle of nature says we should go."

"Good," Grall says, "I wasn't looking forward to having to dig a grave or build a pyre."

Tread and Shelly help finish exploring the area. Tread is quieter than normal because of the dead unicorn. Shelly tries to liven things up with comments on what wonderful friends she has.

  While it is an obvious change of subject, at least it is a nice change of subject.  "Thank you Shelly, hopefully I end up more helpful to you than just someone who punches things and deals with angry people."

The night and morning are uneventful.  After breakfast, only a few hours into the next day's exploring, the group notice another foul smell that draws them to the next bit of note:

Several sandy islets create a ford across this remote section
of the Skunk River. The sandy islands make for a natural
choke point in the river, but the thick piles of rubble,
branches, leaves, and dead bodies that partially block the
river’s flow are anything but natural.

A DC 12
Perception check spots the skeleton wedged in the debris.
The skeleton still wears a suit of +1 scale mail, while clutched
in one bony hand is a masterwork cold iron longsword. A
DC 18 Perception check reveals additional treasure in the
rubble and mud below the skeleton within a rotting leather
backpack.

"I don't see any rust on that armor," Joey notes, "Likely magical.  And very valuable.  We should recover it."

"That's the kind of practical thinking I like to hear!" Grall answers, approaching with caution.
This message was last updated by the player at 04:34, Mon 03 Feb 2014.

Tread goes to put a hand on Grall's shoulder. "Hold on, Grall. That skeleton used to be a person... a person who died here for a reason. There could be danger nearby."

She draws her sword. "I'm coming with you and we approach with caution."

Shelly squeaks, "The river stinks, but... I could have a peak under it." she looks around at the others for a yes or no.

  "Only if you think it's reasonably safe to take a look under the corpse dam.  Tread does have a point, that guy's body is fairly recent.  On top of the fact there are enough recent bodies for there to be a <i>pile</i of them."  Vindictive dire beavers, perhaps?

Grall grunts and nods, allowing Tread to take point.  Joey follows close behind.

"Thanks for the offer, Shelly, but I'd rather the team stick together.  I'd hate for you to be snatched down where we can't see or help you.  Whatever did this likely is perfectly comfortable fighting under water."

Shelly follows the two tanky types, but isn't far behind.

Tread walks over to the body cautiously, ready with an attack for anything that attacks her.

(Move to body, Standard: Readied an attack for anything attacking her or her allies)

  Scott follows along, because undead inhabiting bodies of water is already something they had to deal with (if not fight, but that's just because it was a picky eater).

  "Because this many people and animals being accident prone is a bit much to hope for as the answer."

Sploosh!  Roar!  Out of the water come two snake-like creatures that attack!  One bites at Tread, latching on to her face!  The other claws Shelly with it's two small, but very sharply clawed arms!
This message was last edited by the player at 04:55, Sat 22 Feb 2014.

Shelly jabs at the overgrown snake with her trident, missing it as she winces from the wound. Then steps back to be out of reach. She hopes.

---

Melee attack. Miss(9)
5' step backward

Grall vanishes!  Splat, splat, splat sounds accompany footsteps appearing in the mud, moving in the direction of the monsters.  Then suddenly, CRACK!  Grall reappears with his double-axe buried in the skull of the tatzlwyrm that clawed Shelly!  It shrieks and begins to thrash about, screaming curses in Draconic!

"Still alive after that?!" Grall bellows, "Guess your tiny brain is deeper down."

  Scott lands what would have been an impressive blow, if not for the fact PC hit mods are quite literally, as good or worse than a fish snake on land.  Still, thanks to Grall's ninja antics, even the casual strike is enough to reduce the Crit snake's's Crit Face to mush.

  He steps up beside Tread and Grall afterwards, saying "Wildlife, once again our leading cause of danger."   Hey, he doesn't speak Draconic, and these things are int 5 things without even opposable thumbs anyway.

---

CRIT?... No, no crit.  Still, 1 DMG is enough to do the job to kill snake fish.
Safe move up after.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:15, Sat 22 Feb 2014.

Tread thrusts her sword upward into the center of the snake that is grabbing her. "Chew on THIS!"

---

Attack. Hit(23)!
 dmg: 11

Snake HP: 22 - 11 = 11

Joey steps over and heals Shelly.

"I get the feeling these are intelligent creatures," Joey says, "Speaking a language of some kind.  Maybe we can reason with it?"

The surviving Tatzlwyrm roars in rage upon seeing its mate slain!  It lets go of Tread's face then snaps at Scott, but the monk evades the attack!  It then curses something in draconic.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:22, Sat 22 Feb 2014.

Shelly squeaks and says, "Thanks, Joey!" then suddenly runs around on the water as if it was just a puddle, then stabs the snake with her trident! "Let's reason with it once we're no longer in danger!"

---

Melee! Hit(21)!
 dmg: 4

Snake HP: 11 - 4 = 7
This message was last edited by the player at 05:22, Sat 22 Feb 2014.

"You can't be serious..." Grall groans, "Ugh.  FINE!"

He whacks the giant snake into la-la land with the blunt end of his double axe.

"There ya go.  A live giant snake to talk to."

Joey bursts with holy light, healing the two girls back to full health.