Macabre harvest

[redcoat]

Macabre harvestUsername: Opiii

Karn made his way out into the cool, humid night air. The moon now was high on the sky, casting the world into shades of blue and gray. A lazy breeze washed over the ruined port, quietly whispering as it passed over and through the buildings, between the broken stones. The waves lapped the broken stonework, and with Karn's locking joints and scraping seams, it was almost as if the town wasn't quiet as the dead.

Visibility was lower where Aramag had been earlier thanks to the tremendous turtle's steam breath. The fog lingered, though it was a far cry from the solid white screen it had been earlier. He could easily recall the location where they'd fought earlier. Though dark and blanketed in a hazy layer of fog, he'd know the lizardfolk bodies were around the bend.. Maybe a ten minute walk from Crosp's.
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Username: Ancelas

Shifting his shield on his harm and resting his spear on his shoulder, Karn left Crosps's house and headed back to where the fighting had occurred. As he walked, he kept his eyes moving, keeping watch in the darkness for anything that might try to accost him. He couldn't actually see all that well, but he wasn't particularly perturbed.

If all went well, he would arrive at the battleground soon enough.


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Username: Opiii

Karn found his keen eyes working overtime between the darkness and mists. His ears, what passed for them, strained to filter the noise his gear made from the sounds of crumbling architecture. Looking out into the sea, the view untouched by man-made piers was serene.

To think, monsters lurked beneath that black, sparkling water…

As he rounded the bend, his keen ears picked up several soft noises that just kind of tumbled into one momentary blurt of sound. A faint scraping sound and a sharp 'whud,' clinking and clacking of glass, 'tli-li-kli-link! It was followed by a stark kind of silence.

The sound had echoed along the water front, reverberating across the bowl-like port<span style="font-size:12px; line-height:17px">- Klink, <span style="font-size:10px; line-height:15px">klink<span style="font-size:8px; line-height:13px">, <span style="font-size:8px; line-height:13px">klink<span style="font-size:8px; line-height:13px">..<span style="font-size:10px; line-height:15px">.It drew his attention toward one of the recently carved cliffs, where a rectangular mass sat, obscured at this distance by the mists..
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Username: Ancelas

Karn paused only briefly before continuing on his way. As the sound drew his attention, he squinted, muttering under his breath at the fog and darkness. <span style="font-size:10px; line-height:15px">"…I am Karn…Karn…"

The noise was in the same direction as where he was heading, so he moved closer to the cliffside to get a better look at the source.


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Username: Opiii

Toward the cliffside he moved, mists thinning in patches, until the form revealed itself. Roughly a foot from the steep, broken road, a cuboid, rectangular shape sat. Karn approached what appeared to be a large wooden crate, the top of which was open.

Looking around there wasn't much else nearby that could have made the noise. Some small debris from the attack on the docks, bits of stone and glass…
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Username: Ancelas

Karn hesitated and looked about, suspicious. He lowered his spear into a more ready position and moved closer, looking for signs of movement or any hints as to what could have made the noise. A rat, perhaps?

((Perception: 19))


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Username: Opiii

Karn prepared his weapon and leaned in, snooping around the crate. He didn't lean in or touch the thing, but instead just kind of moved around it, ducking low, like a hunter.

The first thing he noticed was the crate itself was slightly off kilter, one side was taller than the other-implying something wedged beneath. The second thing he noticed was the sound of breathing from the other side of the crate. Short, quick, stifled breaths.

He almost didn't notice at first, the breath's pace being intentional and controlled. Stealthy, but not quite stealthy enough.
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Username: Ancelas

"Hrnn…." Karn rumbled, squinting his eyelights. After a moment, he slammed the butt of his spear against the stone and said loudly, "I. Am. KARN."

Hopefully that would drive out whatever thought it could hide behind a… pretty ramshackle box.



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Username: Opiii

"Bwoah shit–!" Shouted the creature in hiding, her voice high and somewhat nasal. A flurry of shadowy movement sprung away from the box, resolving into a tiny cloaked form turned in such a way to face Karn… From a good three, four feet away.

She stood maybe three feet tall. A tuft of wild, curly red hair peeked out from the dark hooded cowl of her cloak. The hood did little to conceal the pale, round and freckled face which looked up at him, lips drawn back in faux bravado to mask her surprise. Her eyes, wide things with red-orange irises, focused on the giant construct man.

If it weren't for the rapier pointing at him, he might have found the button nosed gnome endearing. She studied him a moment or so, her eyes coming to squint slightly,
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Username: Ancelas

Karn blinked. Or rather, his eyelights flickered in such a way as to suggest a blink. He relaxed and cocked his head to one side, studying the gnome. He looked down at the rapier and then up at the gnome's face, more puzzled than alarm.

Shifting his spear into his shield hand, he then waved at the gnome.

"I am Karn."


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[opius]

Username: Opiii

She was tense for several more moments, looking the warforged over. Her eyes flit to the left and right- visibility was… Lessened by the mist, and anyone could creep up from behind. After studying him a moment longer, though, her posture eased. She let out a little huff.

"No, you're not one of them- You're that big guy from earlier…" Her lips pursed as she puffed her cheeks, blowing away a few errant strands of hair from her face.

Standing before him the gnome appeared to be at ease now. "You and your friends, you helped the turtle." She sheathed the blade. With her gloved hands on her hips Karn could see she was wearing leather armor beneath the cloak, as well as trousers rigged with several belts an pouches.

Furrowing her thick red brows she looked up (way up) at the warforged. "… So what are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be… I don't know, camping out somewhere safe?" She glanced away, muttering under her breath, "… Whatever counts for safe these days anyway…"
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Username: Ancelas

"I am Karn," Karn promptly responded. Then, remembering that no one could actually understand what he was saying, he grunted and walked a little closer before sitting himself down right there on the side of the road. He pulled his pack out and withdrew his book, ink, and quill and began to write, ignorant of whether his new companion was alarmed by his motions.

Once he was done, he held up his book. "FREE CITY FROM LIZARD TRIBES. LEARNED TRUTH FROM PRISONER-FRIEND. LOOKING FOR MEAT. THIS ONE IS KARN. WHO ARE YOU?"


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Username: Opiii

Her lip kind of curled back as the metal man took a seat after announcing his name again. She went to say something, but found herself hesitating as he took out a book and began to write. Lips tight she waited several moments.. and eventually got curious enough to approach.

She peered over Karn's front, startling back a bit when he turned the book over. "What's this, huh- oh…"

It seemed she caught on, recognizing the book as a sort of communication crutch. "Y'know not everyone can read. You got lucky you ran into me and not an illiterate swordsman." She glanced at him, then the book.

"Prisoner-friend. Right." Her lips went tight, she looked at Karn again, then the book. Her hands went onto her hips again before righting herself.

"Karn, huh." She'd suspected as much before reading, nodding slightly. "I'm Rua." She paused for a moment longer, eyes turning toward the mists. "… Thank you for, uh… helping him." She quietly added.
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Username: Ancelas

Karn lifted a finger as though to argue about literacy, frowned, and lowered his hand with a shoulder slump. He needed a more reliable way to communicate…

"I am Karn," he said dutifully in response to Rua's thanks. He began scribbling again as his prior note faded from sight.

"CITY NOT SAFE YET. WHAT IS THE RUA DOING OUT IN DARK?"


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Username: Opiii

"Just doing the right thing, huh?" She tilted her head at his verbal response. After seeing him write, she looked at the book.. Then back to him. She looked him over and squinted hard. "Of course the city isn't safe, why do you think I'm carrying one of these?" She patted her hip, jostling the metallic crossguard of her Rapier.

As though sensing she might be… *too* combative, she sighed and folded her arms behind her back."…Sorry, Still a little antsy from being stalked by a giant metal man." She hooked her head toward the box. "I was cleaning up. Your friends… spooked me earlier, so I bolted and left the goods. I'm not really keen on leaving this stuff out, so I came back."

The box in question, now that Karn had a better look, was indeed off kilter. The wooden crate had two large loops of rope tethered to her side of it, and wedged under one side was a simple wheel dolly made of four wooden bars with some rudimentary wheels attached below. It was somewhat janky, only one corner of the crate was upon it, and the dolly itself was… rather awkwardly pinned.

Seems Karn discovered the origin of the clatter.
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Username: Ancelas

Karn cocked his head to the side as he studied the cart and put his writing implements away. Without a word of explanation, he rose and approached it, examining how it was pinned to see if there might be something he could do to help.


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Username: Opiii

Karn found the crate itself was half on the ground and half on the wooden, four wheeled dolly. It seemed the diminutive creature had only managed to partially lift the thing. The dolly itself had a chord of thickly braided rope attached to it… Not the most intuitive method of conveyance, but certainly better than dragging the crate itself.

The crate, incidentally, was full of glass bottles and jars, neatly packed with thatch hay and cotton stuffing to prevent cracking and clatter. Most of the bottles were empty. Several still contained liquids, however. In the dark of the evening it was impossible to discern the color.

Rua watched him step around her crate, and she sidestepped to keep him in her sight. One part curiosity, one part suspicion. "So you're after meat, huh? You won't find much in the usual places. Butcher shops got raided pretty early on by flaming fist mercs, and what was left got snatched up by the local sanctuary leaders. If you're lucky you might run across some dried stuff at the trappers, but your best bet is gonna be the livestock rearers at Tiryki Anchorage."
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Username: Ancelas

"I am Karn," Karn grunted as he bent down to lift the crate properly onto the dolly. He would then check the dolly to make sure it moved properly and easily before stepping beside it and presenting it with his hands outstretched.

"I am Karn!" He quipped cheerfully.



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Username: Opiii

With Karn's superior strength, he made short work of the heavy wooden crate. Rua, for her part, watched on less in suspicion and more in full blown wonder. Were all warforged this strong…?

She shook the daydreams from her head, caught momentarily speechless. "Well darn, thanks Guy. I was actually having a bit of an issue getting this thing ready to move- and like hell was I going to grab the product piece by piece. You've done me a solid. Now I can actually do something other than wrestle this thing for the rest of the night." She grinned wide, the excitement evident on her face.

"Though… One good turn deserves another." Her red eyes looked him over, flitting up and down along his form, face turning thoughtful for a second or so longer.

Her face kind of fell moments later, a quizzical expression touching her face.  "… Where'd you plan to look for your meat, anyway? I could lend a hand now that…" She gestured at the crate. "… This is done with. And on account of you helping the turtle and all."
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Username: Ancelas

Karn hesitated and looked in the direction where he and his companions had fought, then back at Rua. Wincing, he slowly brought out his writing implements and began to scribble another note.

"LIZARD PEOPLE BODIES"

He held the book up with as much of a sheepish expression as could be seen on a Warforged's face.


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[opius]

Username: Taliesin



By the time Karn had heard the noise at the cliffs Rorr had already been on his way. He made no effort to hide as he strode at full speed, green glowing eyes and mouth hole giving an eerie appearance in the fading fog. Occasionally the construct raven Poe with similar glowing elements would dive in front of Rorr and take back off to the sky keeping vigil. It wouldn't be long for Rorr to meet up.


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Username: Opiii

Rua looked at Karn as he took his book, and squinted to read the pages.She furrowed her brows before they went high, lips pursing into a circle. "Ooooohh…." Which then quickly turned into a grimace. "…Gross and unfortunate. I might of, uh… Kicked a few of those into the sea." Her lips went tight, tucking inward. It was her turn to be sheepish. She perked up shortly after, "There's a couple left though- I couldn't take out my frustrations on all of them. I'll help you sift through the bad ones and get some, uh.. lizard-man-meat that hasn't spoiled yet. Hopefully they just smell bad to begin with, because ho boy…." She trailed off.

<span style="font-size:8px; line-height:13px">kchunk <span style="font-size:10px; line-height:15px">kchunk <span style="font-size:12px; line-height:17px">kchunk<span style="font-size:18px; line-height:23px"> kchunk

Out of the mists loped Rorr, making all kinds of clatter in his dash to find Karn. It was a mostly empty road, and aside from the mist, visibility was decent enough to find the large and imposing warforged that was Karn. Before arriving, Rua darted back toward the box, pressing her body to the wooden frame to hide. She whispered sharply. "Woah crap- Is that one of yours?"
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Username: Ancelas

Karn began writing in his notebook as Rua spoke and held up, glancing over his shoulder at the sound of an even louder approach than his own.

"HELP IF YOU LIKE. NEED MEAT - FRESH IS BEST. FIND MEAT AT OTHER PLACE?"

Karn recognized Rorr and looked back at Rua as the little gnome hid behind her crate. He nodded at her question. "I am Karn."


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Username: Taliesin



Rorr slowed as he got closer as to prevent a collision or his own tumbling. "Ah, still out here searching for meat I see, Karn."

He took the last few steps slowly and stopped just in front of Karn. His quarterstaff was still in his hand but now just an addition seeming to steady him. Poe circled above and dove down to land on his shoulder. "This - there are less bodies than I remember. Have you already handled what you could?" He scanned the area for anything that met the requirements.


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Username: Opiii

As Rorr studied the area, with the mist parting and gradually fading over time, he could see a number of figures sprawled on the ground in the distance. Where thirty or so lizard men had fallen earlier- a result of their team efforts combined with Aramag's steam breath- only fifteen remained, maybe less. A scarce few crocodilian tribe bodies could be seen, though smaller and leaner bodies remained in their huddled positions where they'd been left.

As Rorr stood and studied, the red haired Gnome somewhat sheepishly raised her hand from behind the box. "… That's my bad. Didn't know anyone in their right mind would want em, so I dumped a couple." She rose to poke her head up, hood drawn. From where Rorr stood he could make out some details- short body, a glimpse of leather armor under the cloak's open sleeves, professional's leather gloves, all in dark colors. "Sorry guy. Was just telling your friend here the same story." She glanced from Rorr to Karn. "An' I said you might find meat at the anchorage. They raise the town's beasts of burden there."
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Username: Ancelas

Karn nodded and scribbled another note, holding it up to Rorr as he pointed to the gnome - "FRIEND RUA."

He turned back to Rua and then waited for his note to fade before penning another comment. "WILL HARVEST LIZARDFOLK NOW, CHECK ANCHORAGE LATER. LATE NIGHT ALREADY. THANK YOU FOR HELP!"


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