In reply to Ordin Oakbranch (msg # 3):

The Coast "road" is really just a trudge up the coastline.  Very little of it is sandy beaches.  Most of the Redtide Coast is rocky.  Or high cliffs overlooking the water.  Areas slopping down to the ocean like Salt Lick are uncommon, and if large enough, where villages tend to spring up.

Your little group marches forward.  Moon whistles a happy song as you go.  She's surprisingly good at whistling.  Thought it would be nice if she learned a new song.  You've heard this one five times by the noon hour.

You come over a small rise.  The downward slope actually levels out to a small, rocky cove.  A couple of large tidal pools have been formed.  You can see crabs scuttling along them, searching for prey.

A rowboat is laying on it's side near one of the tidal pools.  It's hull is facing you.  You can't see on the other side of it.  How it's managing to sit upright like it is you have no idea.

The boat looks newish.  It must have washed up just recently.  It appears there's a hole smashed on one side of it, but from where you're standing you can't be sure.

A number of gulls are circling overhead above it.  You can see quite a few crabs scuttling around it as well.

Bellinha had to admit that, even though they were all walking towards potential danger, the coastal land was beautiful.  Much more picturesque than trudging through the forest, and less Owlbears.  Still, there could be no gloom in their march with such amazing scenery.  It brought back to mind the stories that she had been told growing up about the adventures of her ancestors, adventures that involved tall ships plowing the ocean waves.

As beautiful as the water was, it could be fickle.  There were also stories that she had heard down on the docks of Coinhaven, where proper young ladies like her were not supposed to frequent, of sips enduring the wrath of an unsettled ocean.  And there was that wreck of a ship that the kids of Salt Lick liked to play on.  And there was also that rowboat with the hole in it.

"Hey."  Bellinha said, pointing at the small wreck.  "That boat doesn't look at all that old.  I wonder if it belongs to anyone in the village.  did anyone report a missing boat?"

Undaunted by the crabs and birds, Bellinha started to make her way towards the upright rowboat.

The undine stare out into the ocean. He starts to walk into it and spots the rowboat. A whistle from him to try to get the others attention as Zale holds his hand up "Stay here." Hard to tell if the others will listen but worth a shot. He dives down into the water and goes to get around it for a better view.

When the blue man tells everyone to stay, Ordin stops moving towards the turned over boat.

Ordin held back Dillo too so he wouldn't go after the blue man as he went into the water.

"We'll stay just here.  Be careful!"

In reply to Ordin Oakbranch (msg # 7):

Moon shakes her head at your question Bellinha.  "Not that I've heard.  No fishermen missing either.  That doesn't look like one of our boats either.  Trust me.  In a town as big as Salt Lick, you get to know everyone's boat."

Zale, you hit into the tidal pool and manage to slip around so you can see the other side of the capsized boat.

The crabs and gulls have been feasting on two bodies, neither of which are moving.  Two men who appear to have been dead for about a week maybe.

They are dressed as sailors maybe.  Each has a cutlass.  That's all you can tell from here though.

Bark bark bark goes the otter and Zale moves swiftly fowards trying to get the crabs and gulls away from the dead bodies.

Bellinha watched Zale move out of the water towards the rowboat.  It didn't look as if there was any danger, not with the way that the blue hued Zale moved forward.

"I guess it is safe."  Bellinha motioned for the others to continue towards the rowboat.  "Hey...uhm...Zale!  Did you find anything?"

Kozibi didn't object to the coastal road - at least it afforded a better view in his opinion. He stayed near the back of the group, not wanting to 'lead the charge', as it were. But that didn't mean he wasn't paying attention.

The rowboat seemed to pique the interest of the others. He wasn't sure what the significance was, yet, but he listened to what was said. "I hope it didn't bring a plague or the undead to the shore." he said offhand.

He glanced at Bellinha when she took the otter making noise as 'the coast was all clear' - pun unintended. He shook his head but followed just a bit behind her, but kept pausing to look around every once in a while, just to be safe.

In reply to Kozibi Januson (msg # 11):

The gulls squawk and the crabs click, but it's easy enough to chase them off.  None of them seem undead.  Or were-vermin.

Moon squats by the bodies.  "Hmmm.  These guys have been out here a week at least.  I can't tell for sure, but this one..."  She points at one of them, or more specifically, to a large gap in his chest, </pink>"...this one bled out.  Think he got stabbed with a spear or a harpoon or somethin'.  The other one...can't tell.  Crabs have been into him too long."</pink>

The bodies have a couple of knives on them.  There is a harpoon laying close by, though the tide has washed over it a few times by now, so you can't tell if it's what had killed the one guy or not.

Both of the sailors have red kerchiefs tied around their heads.  There's no particular design.  But it's the same shade of red.

There's a name carved into the prow of the rowboat.  Little Jupiter.

Perception test from everyone please.  Thanks

Bellinha regarded the bodies from over Moons shoulder.  "...bled out....not a nice way to go.  Do you suppose that whatever killed them happened here or maybe out on the water and they just washed up here?"

She turned her attention to the rowboat.  The name on the boat didn't sound familiar.  She looked over the hole in the boat briefly before turning to the discarded weapons.  Bellinha spoke a few arcane words and looked around the scene once more.

OOC:
Bellinha will cast Detect Magic.
Bellinha Grunnel rolled 16 using 1d20+6.  Perception

Ordin had moved over once it seemed the coast was clear and that there wasn't an incoming attack.  He hadn't seen anything like this before.

"My best guess would be that they washed up here.  Most likely the tide brought them in though I couldn't say for certain."  Ordin looked over the hill and then the bodies looking for any other thing the others may have missed.


08:18, Today: Ordin Oakbranch rolled 23 using 1d20+9.  Perception check

The undine tries to figure out if he knows the ship. He kneels down, watching the dead corpses "Think they will 'come back'?" He watches them still, and goes to grab the handkershiefs for some strange reason as well as the two blades. Its not like they are going to be used and perhaps he can find a good use for them "We should bury them? Or burn then?" He ponders as he listens to Moon "The sea is unkind to most. One must know how to treat it." Words of the wise.

11:57, Today: Zale Morcant rolled 4 using 1d20+3.  Perception.
I see nothing as my eyes are somehow closed.

Kozibi examined the dead men - from a distance, with his eyes - and didn't get TOO close. He noted a few things about them, and Moon mentioned some things as well. He nodded to himself, but then went back to keeping an eye on their surroundings and the water.

To Zale's question, "I would assume if they aren't already undead, being dead a week would mean no...but there is magic that can animate corpses so...it's not a hard no."

23:20, Today: Kozibi Januson rolled 18 using 1d20+5.  Perception.

In reply to Kozibi Januson (msg # 16):

Moon glances out towards the water.  "I would think they were attacked out on the water, yeah.  The tide here could wash them up.  I think this one..." She points at the one who bled out, "Was alive when they got here.  You can see he tried to crawl away from the boat.  Unless those crabs are really strong."


Bellinha, nothing lights up in response to your spell.  No magic around here other than the beauty of nature.

Ordin didn't know if it was relevant to the situation or not but he told the others what he noticed.

"Before you remove the kerchiefs Zale, I want to point out the knots.  It is interesting why they made 3 cause only one of them is holding the kerchief to their head.  I am not sure why it is like that.  Have any of you seen anything like it before?"

Looking at Ordin, his eyes narrow "There is just two of them, not three. And both are on their heads wearing them...." Is the dwarf daft? He glances around not seeing a third one. The undine decides to not take the blades but keeps the two kercheifs and checks to see if they are covering something.

The knots Ordin is referring to are at the back, where the kerchief is tied around the head.

One is obviously there to hold the kerchief in place around the head.  But past that, in the part of the cloth that hangs out, each kerchief has two additional knots tied into it.  They seem rather elaborate.  Almost like the kind of knots that are used for decorative purposes rather than for the purpose of tightening something.

There doesn't seem to be anything else of interest here.

The two knives are just ordinary daggers.  The kerchiefs are high end cotton cloth.

Let me know if there are any questions.  I'll move us on tomorrow if not.

Bellinha a steeled herself and moved closer to the bodies in order to get a better look at the kerchiefs.

"Is there something symbolic about the knots?" she asked Ordin.  "I mean...do some sailors use the number of knots in a kerchief as some sort of identifier?"

The undine watches as the others look at the bodies. He holds out the two kerchiefs for Bel to look at and once done, he pockets them after everyone takes a look. Zale watches the bodies and glances at the others realizing he was ignored about what to do with them. He starts to head to where the Estate is, keeping his thoughts to himself. The otter keeps up as well and stops, waiting for the others.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:13, Wed 01 Dec 2021.

As Zale moved off, Ordin calls to him, "aren't we going to give them a proper burial or funeral pyre?  I thought you wanted to do that for them.  Even though we don't know the circumstances of their death they deserve that."

Eyes narrowed on the dwarf, Zale leans on his staff "I do not know your ways. It is up for everyone to decide." Right to the point, the undine watches the dwarf. Two seperate worlds. The ocean and woodland. He is definatly odd.

Ordin sees Zale look at him with eyes narrowed and wondered why.  He hadn't done anything to the strange blue man to warrant such looks, "it seems my ways are similar to yours in wanting to make sure they are taken care of.  It matters not how to me either way."  Ordin returned the look with a genuine smile as he then looked to the others and their thoughts.

Kozibi looked at each person in turn as they spoke. He noted idly that there seemed to be some underlying tension, disagreement or something between Zale and Ordin. He wasn't sure exactly what was going on between them, not yet. Maybe it was sexual tension! His eyes lit up a bit and he definitely shipped the two of them!

He looked at the decorative kerchief-and-knots being discussed, but didn't think he had any information to provide more of a clue to what they might represent. He gave a shrug and filed it away mentally to see if he could find more later.

His eyebrows rose. "That sounds like it will take time. A pyre, at least, sounds easier." And less messy. He was definitely not made for digging graves.

Whistling, the otter stops as Zale goes to grab several bundles if possible for the pyre. He assumes everyone else chips in for the pyre and someone else lights it as Zale keeps his distance-perhaps he's afraid of it or something else. The man doesn't say a word, watching the other three as he adjusts his bag afterwards. Not a smile forms on the undines face as the otter looks around. Once its all done and the bodies are possibly lit, Zale starts to head to where the Estate is located. He sticks to the ocean whenever he can, with the otter following.

"..._{and we were off to such a good start}...Guys...Guys...hold on a second...Zale?  Wait a..."  Bellinha started to say, trying to get the attention of the others.  "If I could just..._{oh you are going to make me be that girl are you}..."

Muttering a few arcane words, Bellinha held her hand high causing a bright flash to flare up in her palm, something that she hoped would draw attention to her as she spoke.  "<Aqua>If I could have your attention for a few minutes.  I took this commission and I asked for your help because we all seemed to work well the other night, and I know that we are coming from different backgrounds but we need to work together if we are going to be successful here.  I am in agreement with the rest of you, we should bury the bodies...well they are burning so I guess we are burning the bodies now...but the point is that they need to be put to rest.  I'm sure that if it were any of us, we would want the same done.

"We are not in a hurry, so I am suggesting that we wait until these bodies have been...uhm...properly disposed of before moving on.  So, Zale, if you do not mind waiting for just a little bit.  At the very least we should make sure that there is nothing left of the bodies that might suddenly decide to get up and stumble through the woods looking to eat somebody."