Kerrick Helmsworth
With bleeding to death in the near future much less likely, Kerrick stretches a little to test the limits of the bandage, then nods to himself.
“My thanks, Miska.”
He will then begin to search the room, including the corpses of the elves lying on the floor.
Andrew
“I suppose we should try and keep the Elf alive to interrogate. And the spirits would probably be pretty upset if I wasted all their training.” Andrew says as he checks upon the elf, trying to keep him from dying if at all possible.
There is only the body of the elf Kerrick stabbed with his spear; when Kerrick turns, the others are not there. The gaunt elves seem to have vanished as they were dispatched.
Andrew slips past Miska as he tends to Kerrick, checking the prone form of the elf the paladin defeated...
[quote="Andrew"] "I suppose we should try and keep the Elf alive to interrogate. And the spirits would probably be pretty upset if I wasted all their training." Andrew says as he checks upon the elf, trying to keep him from dying if at all possible. [/quote]
...amazingly, the elf yet has breath in his body. His wounds are severe, and he is unlikely to survive without further healing within the day. Even then, the elf is unlikely to make a full recovery, but should be able to talk.
After Miska finishes with his ministrations, Kerrick kneels beside Andrew and begins searching the elf, poking and prodding him, much to Andrew's frustration. The search yields little: a beltpouch containing a bloodstone worth some 50gp, and 5pp (such coins are not minted in Blackmarsh, and look to have come from the Greywoods). As Kerrick upends it, a folded parchment also falls free. It appears to be a rough, hand-drawn map of the town, with a number of curious markings on it that might be in elvish.
Kerrick also notices that the chain armor shows no sign of the rent cut by his spear, but appears untarnished and whole.
With Gwydion's help and a bedsheet, Hengist clambers down and retrieves the pack. Inside is a battle-scarred leather tome, a small box made of ebony wood, and an assortment of gear not unlike what resides in each of your packs: torches, flint and tinder, oil, a blanket, and rations...
The fallen elf also wore gleaming scale armor, and carried a gracefully-curved longsword of elvish origin. Lying on the ground beside him is a composite bow, and a quiver, its arrows mostly spilled on the ground.
Hengist
I'll take the tome and box to show to... someone, probably Kaul first unless anyone else asks. I'm curious, but not curious enough after that glass globe trap to open elvish boxes. The sword, quiver of arrows and composite bow get gathered up and belted on myself until someone says something about it. (My own short bow goes to Dagmar when I'm back if she's not already carrying it.) Lastly I'll check the body for coins, gems or jewelry while unceremoniously pulling off the scale armor for bundling before climbing back up.
Masov
...will toss up a rope to whomever seems to want it most, as he has one, and will assist in pulling the body over, as that's what it sounds like we're doing. He will also make a mental note to ask a mage about a "Float Corpse" spell.
Hengist will indeed oblige by tying the rope around the ankles of the dead elf. In no way does he pause slightly, rope end in hand, while considering which end of the elf to tie the rope to. I also hand the book to Gwydion once I'm back myself, still trying to palm the box off on Kaul.
Kaul
ill take the box and start to examine it, carefully in case it has any trap like the puzzlebox before.
"ill take a look at this"
GWYDION
“Hengist, let us hide the body inside the cottage. Perhaps the others can pass us a rope. May I examine the book?”
If Hengist assents, Gwydion takes the book with great care and examines it for any obvious signs of a trap.
[quote="Hengist"] I'll take the tome and box to show to... someone, probably Kaul first unless anyone else asks. I'm curious, but not curious enough after that glass globe trap to open elvish boxes. The sword, quiver of arrows and composite bow get gathered up and belted on myself until someone says something about it. (My own short bow goes to Dagmar when I'm back if she's not already carrying it.) Lastly I'll check the body for coins, gems or jewelry while unceremoniously pulling off the scale armor for bundling before climbing back up. [/quote]
Hengist makes quick work of stripping the body of valuables, carefully eyeing the treeline and open space around the palisade for watchers. As he removes the corpse's armor, he notices a pair of solid copper armbands depicting knotwork, probably worth some 40gp, and removes those, too.
[quote="Gwydion"] "Hengist, let us hide the body inside the cottage. Perhaps the others can pass us a rope. May I examine the book?" [/quote]
[quote="Masov"] Masov will toss up a rope to whomever seems to want it most, as he has one, and will assist in pulling the body over, as that's what it sounds like we're doing. He will also make a mental note to ask a mage about a "Float Corpse" spell. [/quote]
While Masov has trouble imagining that a spell capable of floating a corpse could exist, he's not sure he'd want a floating body around in any case - surely someone must have noticed the commotion by now? Glancing back out to the lane, he checks for any villagers before coiling his rope and tossing the end over the wall to Hengist.
[quote="Hengist"] Hengist will indeed oblige by tying the rope around the ankles of the dead elf. In no way does he pause slightly, rope end in hand, while considering which end of the elf to tie the rope to. [/quote]
With the rope secured around the body's ankles, Masov and Kaul, assissted by Gwydion at the top of the palisade, haul the corpse upwards, until Gwydion is able to manhandle it through the open window. The rope is then thrown down again and secured as Hengist clambers back up under his heavy load. The evidence now hidden from sight, the conspirators head back inside the cottage, gathering in the main room.
[quote="Hengist"] I also hand the book to Gwydion once I'm back myself.... [/quote]
[quote="Gwydion"] Gwydion takes the book with great care and examines it for any obvious signs of a trap. [/quote]
Nothing appears particularly dangerous about the heavy leather book, although it looks to have seen significant abuse: heavy gouges and marks across its covers and binding make it appear to have been slashed and stabbed with some violence over its existence. Opening it elicits a crackling from the spine, and Gwydion's nose is struck by the smell of dry parchment, along with hints of sulfur, copper, and ammonium. The tome appears to be a spellbook, and written in elvish, no less. It will take some time to decipher the contents...
[quote="Hengist"] ...still trying to palm the box off on Kaul. [/quote]
[quote="Kaul"] ill take the box and start to examine it, carefully in case it has any trap like the puzzlebox before.
"ill take a look at this" [/quote]
Examining the box, Kaul can discern no obvious danger.
[quote="bobloblah"]
[/quote]
Masov
...raises a finger to speak: 'I....' and stops, mouth open, before continuing: ''have no idea what any of this may mean.'
Kerrick Helmsworth
In deference to Andrew, Kerrick will at least be careful when removing the chain from the elf’s body.
For now, he is simply carrying it; he will add the map to the elves’ pouch and carry that for now as well. (Kerrick thinks to himself that at some point, when we have time, everyone should get together to divide treasure.)
After some odd thumping from the loft above, the others have all returned to the main room where Kerrick and Miska are. Hengist seems to be carrying more gear than when he left, Gwydion is leafing through a large, leather-bound book that has seen considerable wear, and Kaul is carefully examining a black box of some kind.
Andrew
“I might be able to keep him alive. I don’t think he’ll be any trouble whatever the case?” If anyone asks Andrew will try and provide mundane aid. They’ll need to wait for magical.
Kaul carefully examines the small box for traps, getting a close look at it in the process. The box is made of a hard, black wood, probably ebony, and has been finished with a clear, shiny lacquer. It's about 4" tall, by 6" deep, by 12" wide, and there appears to be a 1" lid, the front of which is adorned by a brass keyhole. As he moves the box around, Kaul can hear...objects...moving around inside, clinking as they do, although the sound is soft and muffled.
What is everyone doing at this point?
Kaul
I ask if anybody has see a key
No, no one has found a key.
Masov
After rewrapping his rope, will take a glance around the cottage - how many folks does it look like could stay here? How much evidence of habitation is there, for how many people?
If not out of actionable options in this regard, he'll then apply Loremastery or Magical Engineering to objects that look like they be interesting in those regards.