Arthos Party (First Relic)

[Nelkie]

*Sense magic on staff, person, and use spot*

[GM-Mike]

Arthos bends down and checks the pulse of the arm to see if it is alive. Arthos holds his fingers against the arm for a few moments, trying to discern any kind of rhythm. Finally, he lets go and, since everyone is watching so intently, patches of black skin can be seen where the mud was rubbed away from Arthos's pressing...

[Nelkie]

*Arthos wipes his hand off and looks up at his friends*

This person has been dead for some time now. It looks as they have fallen victim to a nasty trap. This poor person was trying to escape by using the stick, but failed. There is no magic in the area. I'm going pile some dirt and rocks aound the arm so nobody else has to come across this.

*Arthos starts burying the arm*

[Robin]

Robin nodded, her assessment of the situation matching Arthos' exactly. It only took them a few moments to burry the arm, and Robin got to thinking. "It is, perhaps, that he was on the same path as we are... seeking this relic. I cannot believe that we are the only ones who may know of its existence and location." Her face was serious. "My guess is that there will be more... unpleasantries as we go. I'm a master with traps, would you like me to take the fore and make sure we don't end up like him?"

[Atrum Draconus]

*Atrum helps Arthos bury the hand*

People don't survive all by their lonesome for long in the woods, and someone took time to build a trap here. Both of those suggest that there is probably a community nearby. We should be on our toes, don't wanna walk into an ambush. Maybe you looking for traps and Arthos and I scanning the brush? What do you two make of the coloration of the skin?

[Nelkie]

*Arthos turns to Atrum*

I agree with your plan, let's move foward.
As for the black skin, I have 3 therios.
1. it is a dark elf
2. it is roting corpse
3. it is a diseased body and I might have containmented myself by touching the corspe. Please keep a close eye on me if this happens to be true.

*Arthos smiles and contunies on*

[Robin]

Robin nodded in agreement with Arthos and fell in line with the others, keeping a close eye out for anything that might be out of the ordinary. (spot) She also looked for any traps that might be along the way, just in case. (master rogue)

The last morning passed into early afternoon, and the three kept on, all of them alert for signs of trouble.

[GM-Mike]

Robin carefully traverses the terrain, pausing now and again to tell the others where to step to avoid danger. Because of this, the going is slower, but you manage most of the rest of the way without incidence.

And then the rain begins, a torrential downpour, the wind gusting against your body, each step a labor. The sky darkens and it is as if it were still night, but trudging on, not willing to let the weather impede progress, the three adventurers are undeterred in their mission, despite the feeling that three people is a terribly small party, especially in these elements.

Eventually, they come across a large tree that at a distance appears to move unnanturally. Carefully stepping, straining to see through the rain, they finally get close enough to see that while the tree does sway to the fierce wind, what moves unnaturally is a dark elf who had been strung up to its brances, blood freely dripping froma wound in his side. His movement suggests that he is, at least for the moment, very much alive...

[Nelkie]

*Arthos looks at the body as best as he can through the rain and try's to find how it is strung up and if he could cut rope that holds the body up. If possible he will cut the person down*

[Atrum Draconus]

*Atrum stands and focuses for a about 30 seconds and his face goes blank and his eyes seem nearly vacant. He reaches into a pouch and pulls out a vial and as Arthos begins to try and get the body down he finds a flanking position and waits ready to put the dark elf to sleep if they are hostile in any way*

[GM-Mike]

The body is easily cut down and the dark elf falls into your arms, demonstrating little strength. He looks into Arthos's eyes, his own eyes blood shot and weary, and says in a strained, hoarse voice, "It has begun. If it is the cave you seek, leave me, hurry, before all is lost..."

[Robin]

Robin's eyes grew wide as she searched her belt pouch for a cure potion. She tossed it to Arthos, and then redied her swords.

"Looks like that's the best we can do for him for now. We have to hurry!" She redied herself for a long run, if that was what it took. The others were counting on them, they had to succeed.

[Atrum Draconus]

*Atrum pours the contents of the vial into the elfs mouth, it's labeled Cure 2 (and yes it is a cure potion)*

*To the elf*

What do you mean it has begun? Can you lead us directly there?

[GM-Mike]

Feeling the effects of the cure potion immediately, the elf's wounds begin to close and his strength starts to return. "I can lead you there if you wish. Talk as we go if you must, ask your questions, but move swiftly." He gets to his feet and starts heading south once more. "You didn't think you'd be the only ones searching for the relics, did you? That is what has begun, the final steps, the final race; the only question is, who will win?" He speaks loudly to be heard over the howling wind and fierce rain, a determined look on his face, though it is unclear if he races to find the relic or to seek vengeance upon those who strung him up...

[Atrum Draconus]

*As the elf's wounds close and he gathers his strength Atrum charges another sleep on the elf, making sure to be as close as possible to the elf as they crash through brush and limbs*