Moria goes to leave. She walks down the stairs and leaves the building and walks down to the Guard house. When she left she winced in the late morning sun and put up the hood of her robe to shield her eyes from it.

OOC: Sooo...Stoney is drinking and running low and Moria is beginning to head out.  Anyone?

Seeing Moria ran out alone in this dangerous vilalge, Reghar thought it would be best ifeveryone stays together. Damn womans, why won't they ever listen to reasons?


"Team, we just left Moria alone in the village.... we should move there is little else we can do here. By the way, any objection that I wear the ring we found?"

In reply to Reghar Blackcrow (msg # 103):

"I'll follow your lead Reghar.  Planning and thinking can interfere with my prayers."
Sips on his drink.

"Have at it."  Onyx says stoically and joins those ready to go.

In reply to Onyx (msg # 105):

Larz followed the dwarf's lead without comment. What he said made sense and required action. The warrior took up the rear of the group making sure they weren't surprised from behind.

 Moria walked briskly to the guard house without delay.  Seeing the others come as well, she stopped and waited for them to catch up.  She twirled around and looked at them gleefully, fiddling with her fingers and slightly twisted back and fourth like she couldn't stand still.  She was fairly young after all.  Maybe in her late teens though.

 " We're trying to find out what happened to the guy right?  Well the way he died might tell us something or give us a clue I figure. Can't let the guardsman have the dead body all to himself now can we?"" she explained in a bit of a creepy way.  She turned back around and made her way straight to the guard station.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:22, Tue 07 Feb 2017.

Slowly the manicured gardens and moss covered homes give way to cobbled roads as you reenter the town proper.  Finding your way proved easier than first imagined as it was a simple task of keeping the sea to your left.  The sun is beginning to climb higher and higher and the whole of the town is alive in its' presence.  It's hard to imagine how you first saw this place.  Easily enough you find your way back to the gate and ask to be seen by the captain.  The soldier points you towards a ladder that leads 20 or 30 feet up towards a walkway.  Cautiously at first, although the ladder proves more than sturdy, you make your way up the wall.  As captain Rasmir makes his way over you gaze over the wall to the land beyond.  To the west you see the ocean stretching off into oblivion.  A small, manicured road, beginning at the gate, runs parallel and likewise disappears in the distance.  To the north and east lies a massive expanse of deep, thick woodlands.  Near the treeline, not far from the gate, several soldiers are throwing what appear to be goblin bodies into a small fire pit.

 " I bet you that smells really, really bad." Moria said.  She stopped and looked out at the scene of burning bodies.

 Her face became long an sullen as memories of her mother being burned alive at the stake by the town's folk came rushing to her mind.  She remembered a mob that had taken her mother from their secluded cottage in the woods, bound her in chains and marched her into town. Being a young girl of only 13 winters old, there was nothing Moria could do but follow helplessly and watch.

  When they lit the fires, all Moria could do was run, sob and cry.  All she could remember was her mother's crys in protest and screams for help.  Sobbing, scared and confused, Moria had tried to go back and save her, but what could she do against the town's folk.  She was powerless. She continued to run after she heard her dying screams.  She remembered hearing her shout out words that were dripping with hate and malice, something she had never heard from her mother before.

 Moria ran and she ran as far as she could. She didn't even notice that she had run into a thick bank of fog.

 When it had dissipated she was completely lost, alone and afraid.  She wandered for days, her young mind wounded and wandering from the horrific ordeal she had winessed.  She had watched the whole town murder her mother by fire. Why Moria wasn't sure.  She was the town healer and herbalist, and they burned her.  She wish she could learn a spell that would burn them all to a crisp and she would save her mother.  But it was too late.  She vowed to one day learn a spell that would do just that and maybe even a spell where she could speak with her mother again.  Or maybe she should just end it all....

 Thats when Moria started to be visited in her dreams by a massive onyx skinned being who whispered ancient and forbidden secrets to her that both scared her and exhilarated her.  The being promoted hate, death, and revenge,  claiming that in order to get her mother back she must kill every person in that town, and he would show her how.

  Confused and torn, Moria struggled with her nightmare and when she decided the only way to stop them was to do what he said.  So she traveled back to town to either carry out her act of vengeance or die trying.  But to both her relief and dismay the town was no where to be found and she was completely lost.  She had made acquaintances with the local apothecary, who's name she never did learn, and she tried to delve from him where it was exactly and how should could get back to the Morningwood, the town.  But he claimed to have nevre heard of such a place which caused Moria to become disgruntled and she stormed off.

 She had returned a few days later, but to find this.  A murder scene.  Being as he was his only friend in this strange place, Moria felt an obligation to find out what happened to him at least.

 The young girl stopped and stared out at the pile of burning bodies, unmoving and deep in thought.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:21, Tue 07 Feb 2017.

In reply to Moria (msg # 109):

"Nothing covers the smell of burned flesh like a long drink."
With the group walking, tips his head back to take a long drink, nearly tipping over.

Could be the alcohol, or you try walking and tipping your head back.  Its hard even sober.

His little legs walking faster, to catch up to the restless young girl.
"Here, this will help.....Help everything!"

In reply to Stoney Applesmith (msg # 110):

Larzander watched the woman's reaction to the burning of the goblin bodies and studied her, but said nothing. Instead he let Stoney be himself and offer her his version of help.

"The smell would be worse in a couple of days, if they weren't burnt." he replied. "Rotting flesh brings disease as well. What they do is best."

"I only wish they were still alive when we light'em", the booming voice of captain Rasmir echos off the stone supports.  "How did your investigation go?"

This message was deleted by the player at 04:23, Thu 09 Feb 2017.

Moria looked up at the guard captain with an innocent look and a smile.

 " It is not done yet.  We would like to see the body. I was the man's closest friend.  What happened to him.... terrible! I have to know how he died.  Can you take me to the body?" she said to him, holding back a sob as she spoke.

Rasmir eyed the girl slightly...

"It is a terrible tragedy indeed, he was a skilled and valued member of our town.  I'm afraid I'm not familiar miss..."

His gaze turns to the group, moving amongst the faces, looking for a sign of assurance as to the strangers intentions.

 "Buuut... what happened to the body?" she asked with a slight bit of attitude.

In reply to Moria (msg # 116):

Stepping forward, or more shuffling forward a step or two stoney chimes in.

"Sir or er Master Captain.  We have simply been tasked with helping discover whom'd killed the latest member of our town.  Obviously...." Looking upward, and spreading his hands wide showing the expanse of the countryside, and everything within it.
"The divine one thought it would be a good idea to bring us together & help the town out."

Taking a sip and wiping his mouth with his sleeve.

"All we want to do is make the creator proud, and the town a little safer.  You are part of this grand plan, you can take us or tell us where the body is and be a shining star in the eyes of the Gods!  Then in the meantime when we pass each other at the bar, we can share stories and drinks."

Offering his wine skin towards the Captain.
"Looks like thirsty work, care for a drink?"

In reply to Stoney Applesmith (msg # 117):

Larzander smiled at Stoney's drunken ramble. "The lady is helping us in our investigation Captain Rasmir."

"We searched the dead man's place, and the scene of the murder." the barbarian continued. "We found a signet ring and a potion in a secret compartment in the dead man's chambers."

"It appeared that the murders probably came in through the window while he was sleeping." he added. "I am guessing, but it was probably the same imp creatures that attacked us last night in the fog."

"Imps!?", he slams his fist into the wooden posts of the wall.  "You mentioned them before...did you see them?  What did you find?  I had a feeling it might be those rotten things.  All kinds of wild tales and talk have been circulating but no one had any real proof.  You were the first people to ever claim actually witnessing them and surviving."

He pauses and turns to survey the land beyond the walls.

"I've never known a creature that kills with precision."  His words now possess an icy, calm tone.  "His body is at the old cemetery out the eastern end of town.  I don't believe he's been buried yet."  He turns to you, an expression of sadness and concern seated deeply in his features, "Find out whatever you can...I need answers."

 Moria nods as she puts the cowl of her cloak up and goes to leave for the cemetary.  She stops at the door to see if the rest of them were coming.

As usual, Reghar was the quiet type, he followed Moria to make sure she stay safe while keeping an eyes on his other companions. He styaed silent the whole time as tStoney and Moria discuss with the Captain (a tool really). Instead, Regahr focused his attention on the Captain, judging his demeanor and his non verbal expression trying to figured out if the captain is trying to omit facts that could help the investigation.

Nodding with his head, Reghar simply says a faint Hummumm

In reply to Moria (msg # 120):

Moving towards the door, after the young one...Moria Stoney slaps Reghar on the shoulder.

"What do you say friend?  I know you dwarves have some good ale, don't be stingy. Lets frolic after the young and ambitious lady while we drink some stout ale."

Then starts towards the door to follow, like a good worker would follow his master.  After all thats what Stoney has done for a long time, in service of the church he listened to his "mentors/masters" while praying, and following orders.  Of course sneaking in a few drinks here and there...all the time!

As you draw closer to the eastern edge of town, passing once more through those beautiful old courtyards glimpsed before, an old, warped stone wall rises before you in the distance.  As the last of the small cottages and colorful gardens disappear you find yourself surrounded by crumbling foundations of long gone homes.  Judging from the decay and neglect this was probably the oldest section of the city; the original town that first planted roots on this land.  Off ahead about 40 yards you can see the tops of the tombstones doting the rolling landscape.  In the furthest corner, almost built into the wall itself, was an old stone cottage...smoke still rising from the chimney.  Not seeing any other signs of life, nor any sort of dwelling or building, you assume this to be where the bodies are held before burial.

 Moria walked up to the building between the tombstone and through the old crumbled part of town. Covered head to to in her black cloak and with the wild look in her eye, the young girl looked like she naturally belonged in a cemetery.  She walked next to the tombstones slowly, seemingly somewhat distracted by them.  She ran her hand over them playfully as she strolled next to them.

 " To rest eternally.  Forever's sleep. she said to herself thoughtfully.   "I wonder if I could wake them!" she said, shooting a subtle glance to the others to see their reaction.  She smiled contently as she strolled between the tombstones and up to the door of the building.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:40, Thu 16 Feb 2017.

In reply to Moria (msg # 124):

Sipping on his brandy, and stumbling between the foundations of old homes, Stoney points.
"There, there, there is where I think we should go!"

Hearing the young ladies comment about raising the bodies.
"Wake them, or let them sleep their souls are forever gone.  They aren't the same as they were before."
Thrusting his wineskin forward to the youngster.
"Here this will take those thoughts away...have a sip or a few."