Fourth Adventure 04.2: Snarg, Javan, Kolson, Kez at the Graveyard

Snarg turns halfway around and slowly motions to Kolson to come forward. "Come o'er here and look at 'em. Maybe ya be seein' somethin' like this?" Turing back to the Reedshark, he continuous cautiously approaching it, and upon reaching it, bends over to examine the creature.

Spoiler:

Snarg finds nothing unusual externally, but after Kolson examines the poor creature for a moment he comes to a realization. "It ate poisoned meat... something it ate had been poisoned. A really bad poison, not quite sure which but this poor thing is beyond my aid."

"Eh, that's bein' too bad. This ain't his graveyard here," Snarg stands from his kneeling position and slowly begins drawing his great sword, "let's be seein' ya Kodo. I'm guessin' ya be seein' somethin' like this fellow be havin'." he raises his sword up high and brings it down on the Reedshark, ending its life in a swift coup de grâce. Tugging the sword out of the corpse, he wipes the blood off and straps it tight again. "Let's be seein', Kez."

It's a quick trip if we head straight across she says.

*pointsa and waves to Javan standing where she left him*

Snarg begins walking around to Javan and the Kodo.

Spoiler:

You see similar symptoms, but far more severe. It also occurs to all of you that the type of poison that would affect a Kodo, with its notoriously powerful immune system and large bodymass would have to be a very potent one.

Kolson examines it and turns to look at you. "This poor beast was poisoned... something ingested, and not too long ago. I'd say an hour, tops."

*Kezrin shakes her head anger at the ... she fails to find the word to describe the heinousness of this action.*

"Kolson, are you capable of helping the poor creature?"

"They been drinkin' somethin' nasty," Snarg says, going over the Kodo, "maybe be findin' it from this fella." he gives the Kodo a soft pat on the back and glances towards the graveyard. "Let's go be findin' it." he stands up and begins looking past the Kodo; away from the graveyard. "He's gettin' an hour - let 'em get where he's goin'."

Spoiler:

The Kodo came from the Graveyard, almost on a direct course away, as if it was trying to get as far away as possible before expiring. The nearest water hole you are aware of is about half an hour straight west, which the Kodo was not heading in a direction theretowards nor away.

"Hmmm, this ain't right - why ya comin' from ya graveyard?" Snarg looks confused as he turns back towards the graveyard. "Ain't right comin' from ya graveyard if ya dyin'. Somethin's not bein' right, not right. I ain't likin' it, but we maybe lookin' o'er in there." he motions to the graveyard.

"Kezrin turns to snarg."

"I doubt there is water in the grave yard, or grass for that matter... And this fellow was doing his best to get away from here... If you were to ask me I'd say this grave yard needs to be investigated further."

*a consensus seeming to have been reached Kez turns to enter the graveyard.*

Snarg carefully creeps in to the graveyard, drawing his great sword. He motions for everyone to follow him as he begins slowly moving forward, nervously looking glancing down at the ground every few steps.

Spoiler:

The graveyard is built into what looks like a former riverbed winding through the nearby hills, creating multiple ravines and canyons. There is a low, steady wind blowing, creating a chilling howl, and the temperature here is noticeably colder then elsewhere. Kodo bones are everywhere, small and large. And wafting on the wind you smell something very, very wrong, an almost tangible bitterness.

Snarg hacks a few times and wrinkles his nose. "Ya be smellin' that? That ain't bein' right." he coughs. Grabbing a blanket out of his pack, Snarg wraps his nose and face in a makeshift scarf.

Spoiler:

As you continue forward you become aware of several other creatures hobbling away from the direction you are heading, including a few Armordillos. None of these creatures acknowledge you past roaming a bit further away, and all are showing signs of the symptoms. A few look in even worse shape, like something is wrong with them fundamentally in addition to the poison.

As you get closer the fumes are even worse, and Kolson suddenly snaps his fingers. "Bloodthorn, that's what that is. Bloodthorn poison... mean, nasty stuff. Kills you, slowly but surely. I'm not positive there's an antidote."

"So it ain't no natural thing," Snarg says, slightly muffed through the blanket, "ya not be knowin' no cure? Hm, how long's it takin' to set if ya get a gettin' a bad dose? Do ya gotta be eatin' it or bitin' it in?"

"You have to ingest it," Kolson explains. "It's almost never used, it was banned by the Dericost Treaty of 248 and even the Flock only employs it for people they consider particularly wicked. But contact on skin usually won't cause a problem."

Snarg scratches on of his ears as he walks. "I ain't makin' no connectin' wit' poisonin' critters. Maybe if ya just wantin' to be missin' wit' locals food if ya big inta huntin'. Er", he turns to the rest of the group, "don't be lickin' anythin' here."

"The Saboteur was attempting to poison the fort... perhaps he ditched the poison when he was nearly caught or was storing it here?"

"Just bein' rock headed, eh," Snarg ponders, "let's be findin' out 'stead of wonderin'."

As you go on you spot the source of the problem. There is a large... pile of food, vegetables, fruits, some meats. At a glance you realize with the empty barrels nearby that this was the spoiled food that had been poisoned at the Fort, it looks like someone has gotten ahold of it and placed it here. There is a long L-shaped table set up nearby with a number of glass and bronze instruments on it, and what looks like an alchemy table. There is no one there at present, but on occasion an animal will come near, smelling the tempting food before eating it and, within seconds, begin showing the effects of the poison.

Snarg lurches forward and begins barking at the animals that are approaching the food: "Git away! Ya ain't gonna be eatin' none o' that, and er," he motions to the party, "don't be touchin' - jus' in case." tightly clutching his scarf to his face, Snarg approaches the food and lab equipment and begins poking around.

Spoiler:

The area is populated by quite a few animal tracks, and some fairly recent Burun tracks. You can't tell due to the shuffling and hard dirt exactly how many Burun, but at least one. The animals are shoo'd for the moment but keep eyeballing the food, and it occurs to you for the first time that something was probably put in them to smell or seem enticing, otherwise animals would avoid such bitter scented food.

Spoiler:

"Bein' a few Burun here," Snarg comments, "I ain't knowin' what Burun be doin' out here. Ain't seein' no Sclavi; Moarsmen they'd be gettin' to be movin' 'round stuff," his brow furrows, "they bein' puttin' attractin' junk to get critters munchin' on it too. This ain't no accident."