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"That story should have been told from the Beginning, but no matter." Angel comments as she checks Papa's wound, "I believe the story is for telling as we move. My Lord we need to know how to handle Daos's Body... I am not versed in my Mothers People's customs in that Regard." Angel smiles at Liri. "Perhaps...?"

Liri shakes her head. "There is no standard in elven burials, except that they are meant to reflect the deceased's personality." A sad smile lingers on her face. "And so we are in a very poor position to do it properly"

"Then we do what we can. Master Fraso knew him the best, he should be able to give us some idea." Angel replies, waiting on the Necromancer to reply.

"I met him once, at a conference. We talked about energy transference from living to ab-dead tissue. I didn't know him. He was looking for..." the next few seconds of Fraso's speach is lost to Angel, who finds herself looking at a single drop of blood on his tunic. With an effort, made a bit easier by having done so multiple times in the past few days, she forces herself to concentrate on the man and his voice, "...family trouble of some sort, I gathered.
"In any case, half elves tend to prefer the funeral customs of their custodial parent. I believe he was with his father, but I do not know which of his parents was elven.
"Pyre would be best. But we don't have that kind of time, I think. Why were there grotdeir here? And taken?" Fraso's voice climbs in pitch and volume until Maughus shouts him down.

"We'll bury him when there's time. Take him with us, get clear of this place, and dig a hole a few miles away. But we have to go. Gather up what we can and go. Right now." Maughus voice is steady and calm, and he is giving reasonable counsel, which makes it even more disconcerting when he says: "Mister Dirtnap is coming. We don't want to be here when he arrives. I don't know when, but he's coming."

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[OOC]If anyone has plans before heading to the village, please let me know by tomorrow. Otherwise, we're going to do a bit of a fast-forward. [/OOC]

"I agree fully, Master Fraso you should ride Praesul, he will see you safe. Can we use a beast to carry Daos, not the most dignified manner, but I cannot leave him here." Angel smiles, looking to Salia a moment. "Your survived, I am glad, well done Hiric, your bravery will be rewarded."

"Maughus, Liri please ride ahead, scout our way." She grasps the Elf's shoulder for a moment. "I understand your reasons, but we are in this together now, all of us." Giving her shoulder a tight squeeze she turns back to Papa. "Can you walk? I will help if I can."

Elias mounts his horse and canters it over towards the group.

"I'll bring up the rear and make sure nothing follows us. Lets get out of here."

Liri just nods, gathers up her belongings, mounts Casta and sets her in motion, keeping close to Maughus, looking ahead and around with her elven vision.

[OOC] I've been waiting for Ish and Ruff to post, but I'm getting impatient, so...[/OOC]

As the others begin rummaging through the campsite, gathering their own gear, scattered during the battle but not purposely damaged, the wreckage of the wagon, looking for anything salvageable, Bastian turns his attentions to Papa. The man's wounds are more severe than he had let on, but not necessarily life-threatening. Bastian quickly uncorks one of his "special" flasks, and with a muttered prayer pours a measure of the contents over Papa's wounds, which begin healing immediately. [OOC] a.k.a. Cure Light Wounds spell[/OOC]

Hiric's scalp wound, smaller than would have been expected, considering the amount of blood it generated, is treated without divine aid.

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The wagon is a total loss. One axle is broken near the wheel, which hangs drunkenly like a door with one hinge, and the frame is in pieces. The makeshift casket in the wagon bed is shattered, as is the chicken cage. Most of the baggage in the cart is dumped on the ground but intact.

"Wagon's finished," Hiric says. "We can lash some of this gear to the mules. Maybe buy a new wagon in town. Or maybe a cart, even. Since we're traveling a lot lighter now."

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((My apologies. I was waiting for the 'jump to the town' scene. Had I been paying more attention, that is indeed what I would have had Bastian do for Papa.))

As the rest of you gather up the scattered gear, Maughus, Liri and Elias make rounds about the clearing, looking for threats.
Elias briefly spots what might be a small, fast-moving figure in the underbrush, but it vanishes before he can shoot at it, if it was there at all.

Papa carefully pulls the canvas cover from the ruined wagon and arranges Daos' body on it, in the process gathering up whatever items of gear Daos had on him when he fell and placing them in a bag. Then he carefully winds the canvas around as a makeshift shroud and ties it tight.

Hiric brings a mule, which resists mightily as the burden is placed upon its back and tied down securely. Papa ponders the bag for a moment and then, with everyone watching, drops it into Praesul's saddlebag.

Angel manages to find a shovel in the wagon wreckage, and along iron bar which might serve in place of a pick when the time comes.

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The trip to the nearby village takes longer than Maughus predicted, not because it is farther, but because moving a small herd of mules through without a road at night is a tough undertaking. Maughus repeatedly comes back to the body from his point position to hurry things along.

After two hours or so, the village comes into view. "Paulding Depot," Maughus says quietly. "This was a garrison supply town supporting the coastal watchtowers, back when they were manned. Now they raise crops for profit. No more legionaires, but it still has a good solid wall. And they keep it manned," a worried look crosses his face. "Hope we can get in," he says, quietly.

"Do you happen to know what is their attitude towards elves?" Liri asks Maughus. "Should Elias, Angel and I be in plain view or rather in the background?"

"I've seen elves in the marketplace when I've visited. Don't know if any live there, though," Maughus says. "I am more concerned about us walking into town after midnight with bloody clothes and a dead guy.
"Guardsmen tend to notice that sort of thing," he adds grimly.

"Hopefully they'll believe us when we tell them we were attacked."

"You said there were other Legionnaires here?" Angel asks, pulling her cloak tightly around her, covering her breastplate, the Legion symbol was long gone, but the imprint was clearly visible.

"As for the guard, we will deal with, most just want a few coins passed their way." She looks to Liri a moment. "I suggest you talk to them, you are a Diplomat correct?" Reaching into her pouch she produces a few coins, "These will help."

"Retired legionaires," Maughus replies. "You know, the ones finished their terms without dying." His words are nonsensical, but he gives Angel a knowing look, as if he'd said something profound, which she should have understood.