[u][b]Argen, Katya, Muu, Renauld[/b][/u]
There may have been something to be said for only offering Kur-Inuus the inedible portions of one’s prey, but there were no devout there to chastise Oscar for his decisions. With Muu and Renauld’s help, the task was done much more swiftly, even if both his helpers were dirtied at the end as well: their gloves and arms definitely stank of blood now, the coppery tang exuding from the trio almost unbearable. Thankfully, humans adapted quickly, and after a while, it was only Argen, Katya, and the horses that were bothered by the stench. The priest indeed made a show of plugging her nose and, with a nasally tone, said, [color=6ecff6]“Ew, we’re eating monkey butt? Isn’t that like, full of monkey poop?”[/color]

Her disgust at the prospects of eating butt-meat was enough that she didn’t even respond to Argen’s mention of free cake. Not that she would have accepted the offer, of course. She was the priest! If she got free cake every time she healed someone, she wouldn’t be Katya anymore, she’d be Fatya!

The horses, thankfully, could still bear the extra load of monkey meat, and soon enough, the wagon was on the move once more, trudging over the snowy hills once more. After a couple hills, they couldn’t even see the death they left in their wake. After a couple minutes, the viscera that still clung to them no longer bothered them. They continued on, gradually catching up with the two that had gone ahead.

[u][b]Ettamri, Siwon[/b][/u]
Nothing that Oscar had witnessed and described had changed when Ettamri and Siwon found the scene of the carnage. The Fiend Knight had arrived first, his larger companion’s speed flagging as they got closer and closer, and thus, he was able to get the first view of the area around them. It was an unremarkable spot to say the least: the hills surrounding were high and steep, while the wagon looked to be thoroughly destroyed. Yet, there were no clear signs of looting as well, nor any usage of primitive weaponry such as tree trunks or boulders. Sliding down the steep hill into the shallow valley, both Silver Moon recruits could see now, that the empty sacks had simply scattered their grains into the soft snow around, rather than being pillaged or carried away. Was it a beast that had rampaged there? Or was it something greater?

Yes, perhaps it [i]was[/i] something greater. Neither of them were particularly perceptive individuals, but with all the time they had, more details became illuminated. The sacks of grain and casks of wine had not been torn apart by a beast’s claw or fang, rather, what scattered bits remained were tinged and charred at the edges. The deathblows dealt unto the fallen recruits too, were varied yet methodical. Some were bludgeoned to death, their limbs mangled and their skulls caved in, even through what helmets they wore. Others had met swifter, but no less bloody ends, their throats pierced by a sharp object before they subsequently bled out, dying their armor and clothing crimson. None of the fallen had their weapons stolen, however, each one of them dying with their chosen armaments grasped in their hands, and only the horses appeared to be eaten. Choice cuts looked to have been torn out of the fallen steeds, and the destroyed wagon was a blackened skeleton of its former self, good for nothing but firewood now.

At the very least, Ettamri and Siwon could thank themselves that none of these unlucky monster hunters had turned to undead yet. They had time yet, if they wished, to gather the effects of the fallen, identify them by the tags hanging from their necks, and then have Katya properly perform their funeral rites, absolving them from the eternal curse of the King of Corpses.

Or they could not, and get some extra money out of these dead fellows once they DID turn undead.

Soon enough, the rest of the party will join them. It would be Ettamri and Siwon’s decision what to reveal and what to hide, what to do and what to say.