With the assistance of those above, Karel's body was brought back to the surface, and soon thereafter Telemachus and Panatix re-emerged from the well.

Dak's investigations did turn up a dagger on the ground, probably the one that Karel had used.

The visible injury on Karel's body seemed rather minor for having been so deadly, it looked as though he had been bitten twice.  Of course, having been swallowed (partially, to be sure) head-first also did not bode well for survival.

For now, there was no sign of the snake returning.

"Shall we give him a proper burial? He died a sad death, bitten by a snake," Storm says. He then proceeds to use his waterskin and a cloth to wipe the wound and clean his comrade a little.

Thinking to himself, he asks," or shall we try to bring him back to church and see if he can be saved? Those people may charge a lot though."

"It's more than simply money Storm.  First there needs to be devout enough to have the blessings of their Deity to potentially return someone from the afterlife.  Then there is the question of Karel's faith...was he a true believer?  Bringing someone back needs the willingness of the devout to perform the rare magics and the Deity choosing to answer the devout prayer.  Beyond that I've heard that the things you need to put together to do so are quite expensive." remarked Telemachus.

He looked around for a moment before adding, "We should bring him inside and see if we can craft a simple litter to bring him back after we do a quick lookover the rest of the house to make sure we didn't miss the book or clues of where it might have gone."

"Does anyone know any of his people?" Dak asked, recoiling the rope.  "What they want for him."

Most of them had just met him at the festival and didn't know anything about him.

"It is as Telemachus says.  Restoring the dead to life has many facets which much be considered, and accounted for.   The odds of it all ideally lining up are small.    Still, unless anyone can say that Kerel practiced some other faith, I vote to transport his remains to Father Niall's church.   It won't hurt to speak to Niall, just in case."      After a pause, she added-

"I wonder if the serpent just happened to take residence here?  Or if it was lured or placed by Ric's employers.   Which would put Karel's blood on their hands."

"Ric's employers!" Westin says sharply. "Who are they and where has Ric gone to?" he adds looking about.

"I know you said and agreed to what was needed to keep him from cutting my throat, but I wouldn't trust anything that malefactor had to say," he says, his hand rubbing his throat.

"Can we just go and check the cellar before we leave?" Dak asked, handing the coiled rope back to Wick.

"We just need a few torches or a lantern if we can find one."

"Ric may have been a malefactor but he was honest in the bargain in not harming you and he confirmed what I had already guessed even if he gave misinformation.  The people he works for, or worked for if he was being truthful and will want him dead now that he may have cost them their endeavour, use the home here to facilitate a smuggling operation.  The room upstairs where we found him has a window the oversees the bay perfectly and with the use of a lantern from that window could signal ships in the bay as well as read signals from ships to know when and what to do." remarked Telemachus as he looked over to Westin.

"If we want to befoul that operation, catch bigger fish so to speak, we can."

Looking over to Dak he nodded in agreement, "Cellar below and a room above at least before we head back.  First to Father Niall and then later to the individual who hired you to retrieve the tome."

"Who they are remains to be discovered," she said to the mage. "That they do exist I doubt very little.    A one man smuggling operation would be unlikely.    And I don't credit friend Ric with the brains.  I for one am in favor of a little fishing."     

"What did he say they were smuggling?" Dak asked.  It seemed the others had a chance to interrogate this fellow Rick before he fell through the floor and took Westin hostage.

Panatix nods in agreement, with searching the house more before leaving.

As for the body,  "My kind don't much go in for bringing back the dead, seems disrespectful to the life led.  If we are to travel together long, maybe we should make our wishes known, so we don't have to guess.  If I die, please don't try to bring me back.  A decent simple burial will do, and if its in some ridiculous or embarrassing manner, please make up something better to tell people".

"Yes indeed it is hard to raise the dead. For a start the person performing the dead must be of high standing. Still it is only right we try to raise our comrades. As for the house I suggest we split into groups to search the area thoroughly for a moment. Anyone has a light?" Storm asks

Taking back the rope, Wick listened to the others talking about the potential of trying to have Karel raised from the dead.

"Just so you all know should it come up, I'm not beholden to any gods in particular and if I get killed, you might as well loot my remains for all I'm worth and focus on keeping yourselves alive instead of figuring out what to do with my carcass.  If there's enough coin for it, maybe you can hoist a mug or three in my name next tavern you find."

When his mates died back before his being enslaved, they were to a man tossed overboard, their money going to whoever was quick enough, smart enough or strong enough to take it and keep it from the rest of the sailors.  In his mind, he hated that Karel was dead, but his focus would be on keeping the living alive, not what to do about those that were beyond his help.

Dak looked through Karel's pack to see if the man had brought torches or anything useful.

Dak opened the pack that Karel had left behind, finding that the man had had a fairly practical bent--within, wrapped in the spare clothing, were several useful items: a crowbar, flint and steel, a hooded lantern, a flask of oil, thieves' picks, and a small hammer.  Also in the pack was a coil of rope, and a rather worn blanket.

"I agree we should stay in teams,  I'm good for the cellars, there will be no natural light down there to rely on, and I don't need it, let's finish searching this place and get back, who is coming down with me...team cellar dwellers!!".

"Karel had a lantern," Dak announced as he closed up the pack and headed for the back door to the kitchen.  "I'm headed for the cellar."

He'd pull out the lantern and light it up once he reached the kitchen.

"Does anyone want to go back upstairs?" Westin asks hopefully. "If the book is here, I would think or at least hope it would be upstairs. Basements aren't too kind to books."

Despite the encouraging note in his voice, he was beginning to think looking for the book was a mistake. Rogues, smugglers, giant poisonous snakes. No wonder Malachy's servant - or what that Malachy himself - didn't want to come take it. He must have known it would be trouble. Westin also felt bad about Karel. Even though Karel had volunteered and knew the risks, he still felt some level of responsibility. But for his suggestion, Karel would probably still be alive and well. He fervently hoped no one else would die.