Iron Ranger wrote:

The mutes nod and come to doorway, and at once spy the floating form of Selene.

A sudden quaking grips them both. They drop their packs to the cold stone and writhe where they stand, both in agony as they claw to remove their leather coats. Both of their small physiques ripple as bones snap and sinews rip. Silent screams of agony erupt from their gaping mouths as their heads contort into elongated snouts with deep embedded fangs. Delicate hands once clung to torch and dagger now gnarled clawed talons of death!

At last, their panting evens and their murderous eyes stare violently up at the Shaman!

 

Turok's eyes are agape at the mutes transformation...Skinwalkers! ... Here?

Are the mutes afflicted with the Curse? Or was it self induced?

How could this happen? Turok's eyes glance up to Selene...perhaps this is the reason for their change.

Perhaps if they were not in the beams of the moon goddess?

Turok reasons that perhaps the spirits might help him somehow influence the pair.

Turok grasps the totem and appeals to the spirits to help him...

"Back into the building...now...the spirits command you!" Turok speaks with an authoritative voice.
 

Motioning to the mutes, Turok points to the burnt doorway and gives a "this way" shake of the head.

Iron Ranger wrote:

Turok and the mutes ascend the narrow steps back to the kitchen. They emerge and see a breathtaking aquamarine light  pouring in shafts through the 2 broken out high windows above and bathing the burned out chapel beyond.

"What sort of magic is this?" Turok says out loud...Himself a little in awe of the light, Turok observes the mutes to make sure they are holding up. He quickly scans the area for signs of trouble. Holding the warclub in one hand and the metal rod in the other, he attempts to move closer to the door to outside.
 

"I promise, if we find no clues we will come back here and rest...but the longer we wait, the less chance we will find them alive.", with that being said Turok heads back up the stairs,

Iron Ranger wrote:

The mutes shake their heads and dig in. The lip reading is easy--  "Enough."

"What do you suggest then...if you are worried about the scouts...the spirits have spoken...obviously they are alive but injured...if you will not go further then I must go alone."

[Somewhat confusing at times but makes for a good story]
 

[ OOC: The two men in the visions, are they the scouts? ]

Flashes of insight from the spirits...two men who look familiar... they appear to have been beaten up... and the cart, is it the one outside?

"We must go to the cart outside ... perhaps a clue to the scouts disappearance..."

[ Either they're game related or this is what IR has been doing in his spare time.... ]

The mutes look to the Totem of the Wolf for guidance from this indecision.
"Oh very well!"

Turok leads them back to the basement so that they would not be disturbed...

With the mutes watching the door Turok does a ritual purification, cleansing himself of all impurities...meditating for some time and burning herbs to get a pleasing aroma for the spirits.....holding the totem around his neck and he begins chanting...at a higher rhythm and crescendo...he beseeches the spirits to guide them in discovering what has happened to the scouts..and what should be their next course of action with or without them should they be lost.

[something like this...]






 

Turok takes it upon himself to alleviate the pair's concern..

"Out we go then...just not the same place twice."

He checks his pack and gear and then gesturing...

"After you."

Iron Ranger wrote:

EVerything in the kitchen is as Turok and the mutes left it. Looking through the burnt out doorway into the chapel, he notices that the sleeting has picked up again.

Noticing the change in the weather Turok turns to the two, "Perhaps we should reconsider the cellar?"