The woman nodded her thanks and averted her eyes from Finan. " Thank you, Hearth Father."

 In the lighter surrounds she noted her rescuers properly for the first time.

Bael was richly dressed, at least compared to anyone she had seen up close before, and she bowed as best she could. Then to Kores, she wasn't sure what to make of him but robes meant a man of letters as far as she knew.

She bowed again, " Milords."

She turned finally to Dann and Yamousou, Dann was a borderer that much was clear, she didn't know what to make of Yamousou.

" Thankyou, Good Men."

She seemed to gather herself up, " Come, Henny. These nice men will see us home."

Dann smiles back at the woman, then gives a hand to Yamousou to speed up the process of carrying Guillaume's body outside.

"Let me see the body...  That man had immense strength...  I wonder whether he was a native of these parts...  pretty well equipped for a brigand.  Perhaps he is from some foreign land?"

OCC - shall we split up, those guys with the body head on whilst we catch up later?

The companions ajourned outside. Two bodies, one burned, one boiled, floated in the pool. Another man his skull crushed lay nearby and a large mailed figure lay in a pool of blood.

The woman and her daughter shied away from the mailed figure even though it was obviously dead.

To the left of the pool were a number of patches of ash and beyond it two men lay dead, one charred, one dead from arrow wounds.

"What is this?  A cross between a beast and a human?  A unique race of abominations or coarse, rural farm practices?!?!"

*Sniffs*

"Well, if we leave them here...  the local predators might acquire a taste for human flesh...  I'd say, best we throw the bodies into the water and leave this one out here.  If the wolves and bears acquire a taste for Mr Hirsute, hopefully we'll see less of his kind around..."

*Loots*

OCC - Lets carry what might be worth something.  Maybe Yamousou can wear his armour.  Anybody want his sword?
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:34, Thu 02 May 2013.

Finan showed Kores what was left of Guillaume's;
Lantern, Flint and tinder, Bedroll, Gambeson, Dagger, Paper, quills and ink, Plaid.

"We have refilled our lanterns with the oil.  Kores, take the writing tools and kerchief.

OOC - the above listed is available outside... Feel free to take what you want. I have already pinched the arrows and various bits & bobs...

I recommend we take the sword and armour, but I am full carrying a dead Chaubrettan...!

"Maybe the ladies could salvage the clothes to protect their modesty." Yamousou didn't have the hang ups about public nudity that other people had so their naked forms would neither offend nor arouse him, but he knew that they would feel uncomfortable, especially surrounded by many strange men.

"We should really bury or burn the bodies. If we leave them in the water they could foul the river."

"Pile them up outside.  I'll burn them using the power of the Hearth Fire!"

In reply to Finan McRoach (msg # 449):

Kores is...  reluctant to get his hands soiled...  He's not much help as he tries to pull the carcasses whilst minimizing filth.  He's familiar with dead bodies mind you but he's just not going to do everything alone.

Did someone take the snout man's sword?  If nobody else can carry it or the chain mail Kores will pitch in...

Bael stared a moment at Blackie's corpse.

"What in the hells is that thing?" he wondered and was somewhat further disturbed to see that Kores knew nothing about it either.  Kores knows everything about this kind of thing...

"We shall find the nicest hilltop near here to bury our friend.  The rest can burn."

Bael helped the mother and daughter a little down the gully before going back and piling up the corpses of the raiders for Finan.  After trying to drag Blackie's corpse he decided that it was too heavy and that would be where the pile would be located.

Finan re-iterates this information to Bael, then sets fire to the corpses.
Raw Power Fire - 3MP's, Ignite any material even when wet.

Dann helps the others pile up the corpses. Of the looted objects, he does not want anything aside from the oil, as he does not see anything compelling. And he would rather leave everything from this grim scenery where it is.

He feels really sorry about Guillaume, a refined person -- even though their probably was more to him than met the eye -- in a brutal world. "Aren't we going to bring him back to Glissom? Maybe we can build something to carry him along the way?"

The bodies, both human and other, roared with flame and were soon consumed unto ash.

The woman took Guillames boots and tunic with apologies to the man, she stuck close to Bael as they moved out along the gully. Henny opted to sit on Danns shoulders.

Kores followed, as did Yamousou, bearing Guillames corpse. Finan waited a little to see that the corpses had been fully consumed then followed his companions into the woods back towards the trade road.

In reply to GM (msg # 454):

OOC: Hm, dumped my flask of oil for the quills and all....  Is that the real limit I can carry?  Kores is pretty muscular for a 150lbs wimp....  I must have at least 12 encumbrance...

Weird, now I look at my own character sheet I have him as 185lbs...  Must reduce this....

Yeah, I think I ought to manage, bearing in mind average strength gives 10 encumbrance....
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:28, Sat 04 May 2013.

OOC: Yeah, your strength is 14 this gives you a 12 item limit.( pg 23)
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:40, Sat 04 May 2013.

In reply to GM (msg # 456):

OOC: I took it all, though I wonder if Chainmail carried would consist of more than 1 encumbrance.  Hey, I'm spent, might as well wear parts of it, up to armour factor 2..  like mungodan style? SOUNDS FAIR. :)
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:41, Sat 04 May 2013.

The companions saw no sign of trouble as they followed the trail back through the woods. They arrived at the trail road and making their way down it soon saw a cart and horse stopped outside the ravaged holding.

An old couple were standing at the roadside weeping and a young straw-haired man was moving through the remaining buildings with a piece of wood resting on his shoulder.

The old couple saw the companions approaching, they spotted Henny sitting on Danns shoulders and smiles lit their faces. They came forward carefully, obviously wary of the armed men despite their relief.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:33, Sat 04 May 2013.

Yamousou hung back a bit when they spied the cart. Guessing that the occupants were friends or family of the two women, he decided that the sign of a strange dark-skinned man carrying a body might spook them. He then glanced at his companions and grinned to himself, realising that most of the group were quite capable of spooking them...

In reply to Yamousou (msg # 459):

Kores clumsily removes the sword from his shoulder...  almost hitting someone with it...  He's not in the mood to talk, just let it all happen...  these people appear to know each other eh?

Finan approaches the family.

"I am a Hearth Father, and it with regret that I could not return all the family safe home.  Rest assured that those responsible were put to the sword, have been reduced to ash, and were scattered to the winds."

Stepping closer and lowering his voice to the family,
"There is little more I can do for you, but offer weregild." Finan opens his purse and starts counting out silver...

Watching Finan and not wanting to be outdone, Bael smiles and leans forward to the mother they have just returned and hands her 50 silver florins before Finan can hand over his assumedly meagre amount.

Finan had counted out a generous weregild for a peasant farmer such as this woman's husband.  When Sir Bael stole his thunder in a most unchivalrous manner, Finan smiled thinly and returned the silver to his purse.

"Thank you for your generosity Sir Bael.  You have done the Hearth Fathers a great service, and the Hearth Fathers never forget those who have done them service."  Finan spins on his heel and returns to Yamousou.

Bael smiled at the mother and her family.

"May Gatanades be with you.  It was only with his aid that I managed to kill your captor.  Now we must return to the city."

"May we ask you where you will go now?" asks Dann, while exchanging strangely saddened looks looks with Henny.