Not much, actually - most of their stuff was back inside the barn, and while it hasn't all completely turned to ash it is definitely unusable.  All that you do manage to recover is the two knives that were part of the scuffle earlier, one leather belt, and three coins.  Though when you check Cuthbert's body you notice that he has a tattoo on his back, just below his neck, which looks like a circle that is filled in on one side.

Slaughtering captive foes is a truly dishonorable act, that much is clear to Lucius. He makes a point to bury the dead and help Lazarus disable the living.

"Night is coming. We need to set up a watch. I'll... yawn go first."

All that survived the combat should be spared. Let's say they are 2 nameless thugs and the young lad we spoke with before all went to shit.

"I volunteer to take second watch," says Istvan. "Er, how many watches will there be? Three? Less? More?"

Thistle looks up at Lazarus and hisses at him.  Then she holds up a finger, turns back to the scorpion in her other hand, hisses at it a little, and sets it down, letting it scurry off.  She clears her throat, and looks back at Lazarus.  "Ss...sorry.  I was a little caught up.  I've never met an ox before, either, and it's getting a little late, but if you don't mind me taking some time in the morning I will ask them," she agrees.

"I asked the scorpions if they'd help watch the prisoners," she adds.  "Since we didn't bag them up and throw them at anyone, and they're up at night by preference.  So be careful not to step on any, please; they really don't like that."  She smiles over at the prisoners.  "I asked them not to sting anyone who keeps still," she assures them.  "They're only a little bit mad, so they'll probably listen."

"Wake me for the dark hours," she suggests.


OOC: I would, in fact, like to have asked the scorpions that, but she's also saying that just to help keep the thugs in line whether the scorpions are feeling helpful or not.

There was some talk earlier about nonlethal attacks, but no clear consensus at that time about which enemies to spare.  This list sounds fine.  Considering the beating that Cuthbert took once he showed up, he wouldn't have survived even if you had tried.



The scorpions agree to hang around for tonight, but they make it clear that as soon as dawn breaks, they are going back inside.  Not that the prisoners can understand any of that, of course.  It's enough for now that they understand the presence of stingers almost as big as their hands.

"I will take the fourth shift," Lazarus offered. But instead of preparing for sleep, Lazarus set up an area away from the prisoners for replenishing his spells and mystical energies. He wanted to prepare his spells before he slept in case anything happened during the night.

Before he began his spell preparations, however, he flipped through one of his books to see if he could pinpoint any meaning behind Cuthbert's strange tattoo. He relayed his findings (or lack thereof) to the group.

---

13:42, Today: Lazarus Steel rolled 12 using 2d6+3.  Spout Lore with bag of books: strange tattoo.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:43, Mon 03 Feb 2020.

Lazarus finds references to many cultures that use tattoos to confer magical powers, but there is no universal symbology - each culture comes up with their own system, with its own meaning.

Looking to the sky for inspiration (or perhaps just to vent his frustration), he then notices that the fraction of moon which is visible there has nearly the exact same shape as the tattoo in question.  That can't possibly be a coincidence.

Thankfully, the night passes without interruption.  Istvan gets to see a large owl turn from predator to prey as it tries to catch one of the giant scorpions, but other than that things are pretty peaceful.  When the sun rises, you all feel well rested, and your captives are still here.

Anyone who needs to eat, mark off one ration for the night.  Anyone who is injured, you regain half your missing hp.  And I forgot about this before, but the Make Camp move says it's sufficient for leveling up if you have the xp for it - no need to wait until we're back in town!

(Er... we regain half our missing hp? Or we regain an amount of missing health equal to half our max HP?)

After awakening refreshed in the morning, Lazarus took his turn with watching over the camp. once the others had been stirring for a while, the mage stood up and headed toward Cuthbert's body again. "You guys go ahead and start your interrogations whenever you are ready. I'm going to see what else I can glean from our old pal's tattoos."

With a new spell at the forefront of his mind, Lazarus reached a hand toward the tattoo and closed his eyes. He chanted to himself quietly as magic poured into his fingertips. Once the spell was cast, he felt around for the telltale "textures" of magic that he suspected might be present in the tattoo. And did his best to feel out what effects they might have. However, it was true that sometimes strange magics were best left alone. Both his forearms were evidence of that...

---

Marked off one ration and removed his spellcasting penalty he had accumulated. For prepared spells, he will switch out his cure spell for Detect Magic. And he is casting Detect Magic on the tattoo on Cuthbert's back.

"One of your senses is briefly attuned to magic. (sense of touch) The GM will tell you what here is magical."

13:10, Today: Lazarus Steel rolled 10 using 2d6+2.  Cast Detect Magic.

If he finds magic, he will also attempt to Discern Realities on it. His question being "What here is not what it appears to be?"
13:12, Today: Lazarus Steel rolled 2 using 2d6.  Discern Realities on tattoo, if magic is present.

Aaaaand that's a failure. Let me know if I should add XP.

Lucius basks in the rays of the morning sun. He reflects upon the past day, how despite failing to invoke his divine authority, he kept his allies safe. He felt the rising sun fill him with renewed sense of motivation.

"We know you have committed a great crime against the people of... hm... Vorbrud! Yes, Vorbrud. We will be taking you there, where you'll answer for your misdeeds. However, frontier justice is cruel and biased. I am bound to protect you from the angry mob, and I ask you to cooperate with me."

Right after saying that, he realized the poor phrasing. Sweat starts to slowly form on his forehead as he realizes he put himself in a disadvantageous position... despite the other men being bound and immobilized.

21:04, Today: Lucius rolled 6 using 2d6+2.  Parley - protection from the angry mob as leverage.

D'oh, got it mixed up by the time I put the book down and typed the post.  Do what Istvan says, not what I said (but only this time).

-----------------

Lazarus's spell indicates that the tattoo is indeed magical.  As you try to examine the magic further, your vision darkens momentarily, and then suddenly you are overcome by the brightness of the sun.  It takes immense effort to keep your eyes open even at a tight squint.  And everything that you can make out looks oversaturated.

In response to Lucius, one of the hostages smiles and says "Let the mob come to us!  Surely the people of Vorbrud can benefit from Matyokol's blessing.  We will be happy to teach them!"  He seems sincere, as far as you can tell.

Both of you mark xp.

Lazarus exhaled in frustration of his new predicament. "Well this will complicate things..." he muttered to himself. Then, more loudly, he called to Thistle and Istvan.

"Um, Istvan? Do you happen to know how to get magical light out of your eyes? Or Thistle, do you know any tricks for, well, staring into the sun? I seem to have miscalculated one of my spells somehow." He sighed. "Again."

---

XP updated. Now at 7/8 needed to level up.

Is there anything Lazarus can do/roll to try and alleviate his bright-blindness?

"Okay..." Lucius backs off from the men, joining the group on the side. In a hushed whisper, he shares his concern: "These men are crazy! Religious zealots! It'll be hard to make them cooperate,  I think."

Istvan thinks, but not for long. "Sorry... I can make light, but I can't really affect other lights, nor the brightness of other... light-related... phenomena. And I think Noric's healing is pretty much for, like, actual wounds and stuff. I don't think it even works against, like, catching a cold..."

Lazarus is no stranger to magical accidents.  What kind of sacrifice has he made in the past that helped alleviate the side effects?  The same kind of thing might work now.  Probably.  Hopefully.

Lazarus sighed again. Of course he couldn't have an easy solution to his problem, but he was not at all surprised. "I guess I will have to try and fix myself the hard way," he relented. "I need to give up one major sense to regain another. At least until I can perform the more complex ritual to retrieve both. But that would require a Place of Power."

Lazarus closed his eyes even more tightly than they already were and concentrated. He knew he did not want to get rid of his sense of touch or hearing, which left only taste and smell. Smell was probably more useful, but he hated the thought of being unable to enjoy is delicious rations he had picked out so carefully. So Lazarus chose smell anyway. He focused his mind and willed his senses to mystically switch.

"What do you think we should do with our uncooperative friends then?" Lazarus asked Lucius even as he continued to concentrate.

---

Lazarus is sacrificing another of his senses (smell) to regain his sense of sight. He has had to do this kind of trade before, and was only able to regain all of his senses again after a Ritual at a Place of Power (as per the Wizard move).

Here is a Defy Danger +Int to try and fix himself without making things worse.
14:42, Today: Lazarus Steel rolled 9 using 2d6+2.  Defy Danger +Int.

Lucius considers the wizard's words carefully.

"I think... they might be willing to share whatever they know. In hopes of converting us to their faith." He mutters quietly, almost to himself.

Louder, he adresses the captives. "Why should we worship this... Matyokol. I never heard of them! Must be a lesser deity." Lucius tries to goad them a little bit...

Lazarus concentrates, and after several seconds his vision returns to normal.  His sense of smell is indeed gone for the time being.  Which means his sense of taste will be dampened as well, but at least he can still get some flavor from his breakfast.

In response to Lucius's comment, the prisoners eagerly respond "Yes, He used to be a minor deity, guiding the moon in is flight.  But by His own divine will He grew into a position of greater power, just as He blesses His followers with growth and power!  Come with us to Dreorus and you will see just how great this power can be, and how great you can become if you devote yourself to Matyokol."

Thistle frowns disapprovingly.  Deities, much like wizards, should know their place... yet so seldom do.

"I believe we should take you up on the offer. What does everyone else think?"

He leans in for a whisper. "We could bring these guys to justice, OR deal with the issue at its root. The choice is clear to me."

"We need to go to Dreorus, whatever that may mean," whispers Istvan. "I would rather we just get these fellows to give us directions to where we want to go, and then turn these fellows over to the authorities, but if that doesn't work, then yes, I guess we'll have to get them to lead us..."

"I will go wherever we need," Lazarus added once his vision was back to normal. "Just so long as we eventually go back and retrieve the book I used as collateral. It is irreplaceable, but retrieving it can wait, so long as we have more pressing concerns."

"Hmm. Let me ask them, then." Lucius nods to Istvan's wise suggestion.

He approaches the prisoners with faux confidence and asks:

"Very well, we would like to see Dreorus for ourselves. Where is this city located?"

The more talkative one smiles and shakes his head, saying "You city dwellers, always assuming any place important must be a city.  Look around you, friend.  We have light, and grass, and a nice breeze.  If you follow this road north, two days by wagon ride, you will find a land that looks like this, but with abundant food and abundant animals, and happy, healthy people under the loving light of the moon.  That, my friend, is Dreorus."