On the way back. "Do you still wish to examine the dead, mylady Sionag?"
« Sure. Maybe a cautious examination could help to determine exactly what we will hunt. »
Turold, as tactfully as he can, will go and see the grieving carpenter, and ask whether they would be allowed to see the body, since they want to hunt the beast that did this and try to have an idea of how dangerous it is.
Com+Etiquette roll of 10.
The carpenter looks puzzled. «No harm. I suppose,» he mutters, and points towards the cottage you passed on arrival. «Furthest cottage.» Then he returns to his work and speaks no more. Nobody seems to challenge you when you go to the cottage. It is dusk and no light in the cottage, but the smell is unmistakable. The corpse is on a table or bench in the middle of the otherwise empty room.
Sionag goes to the cottage. Inside, after be sure that they are alone, she washes her hands, puts her medical gloves and casts "revealed flaws of mortal flesh". (formulaic, InCo 10, with quiet words and bold gesture -InCo 11 casting total-)
With the spell and her knowledges in chirurgy she tries to determine what's exactly the cause of the death and maybe an idea of the size of the creature if it's a beast who killed him.
[chirurgy roll : 2+5+9 (stress dice) = 16 ]
The corpse has been extensively crushed, many bones have been broken, including the rib cage being caved in. Big chunks of flesh have been torn away, including part of the neck, one kidney side, and half a thigh. Nothing that could not have been caused by a pack of wolves and stampeding horses. This much is evident from the spell.
There is not enough light to make good use of mundane skills.
Definitely after his corpus' spell, Sionag wants continue her investigation. She's starting by a "eyes of the cat" (formulaic spell, MuCo 10, with quiet and bold -MuCo 12 casting total-). She casts some lights, using her knife like a torch lamp without flame [CrIg5 base 3, touch +1, concentration+1. spell roll : CrIg 4 + 2x9 (stress dice) =22. upgrade to CrIg 10 (base 3, touch +1, sun +2)].
Using her new light and her capacity to see on darkness, she investigates with more precision.
The sight is as horrible as the smell, and mostly, it just confirms the flaws revealed by the spell. However, Sionag can see that the hoof marks on his chest are cloven, like a cow's. The flesh is torn more than cut. The teeth marks do not look like any of the usual suspects; like wolves and foxes. It could be a boar of course.
Turold stays outside, not really caring for the smell, the worms and anything else.
Thom steps beside Betula and touches her upper arm lightly, speaking quietly in Latin.
"I'm having second thoughts about this Bog Boar. It likely has killed more than one person. We're not a war party. Perhaps we should make note of the general location of this Boar and then move on to the rendezvous with the others. Am I wrong?"
Sionag will take the time needed, despite the horrible smell and worms. That cannot be worst that a campaign hospital some days after a battle. No trace of magical injuries, certainly just a big and dangerous beast. A boar with the size of a cow, with tusks sharp as wolfâs fangs. Hunters will need magical shield, and sharper tools⊠and certainly luck during hunting and healer after.
She puts her bright knife in her backpack, pronounce a short prayer to the ancient gods for the dead man and leaves the cottage.
Sionag goes out after her investigation and reports all her result, in Latin with quiet voice.
« This man was killed by many wounds. Either he was attacked by wolves and trampled by cows⊠or all of these wounds were made by one big beast, like a boar, sized like a cow with tusks sharp as wolfâs fangs. »
Turning to others magi :
« One of you can protect hunters with magical shield ? That could be very useful, I think. »
"Yes, I think that may be wise. Confronting a large boar who can summon others of its kind and direct them to fight does not seem like something we would be able to handle."
Thom nods to Betula before walking over to Turold, Sionag, and Finn, his voice remaining low though he speaks in a language his friends can understand.
"Sionag, I don't think we can protect hunters... or ourselves against this one. It's more than we can handle."
Thom turns to Turold.
"Do you think we can mark or remember this region enough for a hunting party to return later? I'm worried. I think we need to pass by on this one once we know where the bog is located."
"One boar, big or not, is just a boar. A group of them is different, yes. We could return here later, yes. Let me talk to the kids before we leave. I wouldn't want them.to go in our absence. Sionag... maybe look for an arcane connection?"
Turold will go talk with Botwulf and Fitch, explaining he thinks they need more hunters than they have now to face the boar and advises them not to go alone.
Botwulf scoffs, «too much for you? No worries. We'll slay the boar as we were planning. If you come back one day, the bogs will be all safe.»
Fitch looks more concerned; deep furrows of worry form between his eyes; but he says nothing.
"The two of you might take a boar each, but you won't survive a horde of boar, one of which is as large as a cow. Try not to get yourself killed playing hero."
«Don't concern yourself with what you do not understand. Stealth is the clue. We slay it before it can call upon its pack. Silly!»
Fitch doesn't look nearly as confident as Botwulf, and he looks intently down at his work, finishing another arrow.
Turold looks at Finch. "Do you plan to go with him, kid?"
«I have to. I cannot let him go on his own,» mumbles Fitch.
"You can't leave him alone to get himself killed, I suppose, but do you think you two can succeed at this task and come back alive?"