The next day is just as sunny. It starts out cool, but warms up mid-morning. You travel south/southeast into the area surrounding the cavern where the Sootscale Kobolds were encountered. By sunset you finish exploration south of the Shrike River, and encounter nothing of note beyond the rocky hills in the center of the hex - split by the Shrike.
"Bah! mischief hides, but can still smell it on the breeze.
Will just have to look harder tomorrow.
But now, food!
Garborn brought enough to cook a fine meal."
Digging into a pack, Garborn produces a side of beef, a large wheel of cheese, bread, onions and bacon.
"Tomorrow, will begin to look for fresh produce in the wild. Can find potatoes, leek, onions, mushrooms, berries, herbs and of course game.
Might set snares before sleep, and will prepare some dough, tomorrow, fresh hot cakes!"
"Not that I am complaining by any stretch, Garborn, but how in the Nine Hells do you manager to lug all that around with you?"
"Sacks with fresh produce when near city, and keeping some handy in magic bag.
Garborn always prepared for camping, look!"
Producing a small bead from one pocked, he flicks it onto the ground where it bursts into a full made campfire.
"And Garborn is no fool, carry two of them, alternate between nights!"
"What's a potato?"
"Spud, grows in the earth. Good in almost everything, stew, grilled, boiled and more."
"I think we may have dueling kitchens at some point. Uh...not that I am complaining about that."
"Competition good! Drive competitors to try harder.
All things strive.
Besides, Garborn difficult opponent in the kitchen, gyahahahahaha!"
Nico laughs. "I look forward to these challenges, and selflessly volunteer myself as food taster and judge. For the good of us all. And, it's my sworn duty as Magistrate, I believe."
"Hmmm...tough, what suits magistrate?
Spit roast boar with honey and spice glaze, home made gooseberry pie, green onion and pepper stew and fresh made salmon slices.
All served with triple strength mead...
Hmm..."
"Sounds rather appetizing, Garborn." Vladimir says before whispering something to Marisol and winks.
Garborn laughs uproariously and claps his bulging belly with both hands.
"Garborn knows good food, have probably eaten more meals than all you combined.
Twigs, so tiny!"
One massive fist snakes out and gives Nico a rough but friendly punch to the shoulder.
"Need more meat on your bones, women like it when a man is...substantial, is right word, yes?"
Durielle smiles as she listens to her friends' banter. She removes a brush from her traveler pack and approaches Marisol clearly offering to comb the woman's raven locks in exchange for the same on her own golden tresses.
Garborn's playful boast regarding the importance of substance gives Durielle slight pause as she feels chagrin over her own frailty. She pauses to regard the thinness of her hand and arms and wonders if she will ever be free of the Omenstar's Promise wasting touch...
The moment passes, and the oracle puts a smile on her face again as her comrades continue to discuss food and the virtue of being hardy. She softly begins to hum a tune often heard in her former village home.
"Now then, cut the meat in tiny portions, slice the cheese finely, cube the onion and begin to cook the bacon.
Is called a melt, bacon and onion in between bread, beef cubes on top and under neath cheese.
The bread is slowly re-baked, and become nice and moist from beef juices.
Bacon and onion, flavor full, and cheese keeping everything in place, adhesive!
Simple, but tasty!
Bacon amazing meat, touch all three main flavors.
Is sweet yet salty, and have the fatty quality.
From flavor perspective, bacon have no match among meat."
Garborn then hands out plates with cuts of his newly created "melt".
"Eat, eat! Made plenty, more than enough for all, even if all eat like Garborn, Gyahahahahaha!"
The next day you finish your exploration of the hex containing the Sootscale Caverns. You pass through the entrance of the nearby mines, and (apart from some vermin) find them to still be vacant.
You spot a spear-wielding kobold at one of the cavern openings, but it ducks out of sight as you come closer.
Durielle seems startled by something she sees...but shakes her head and mumbles about an echo of times gone. She strokes Whisper's mane and peers around taking in scenery.
The next morning you reach Nettle's Crossing. By the charred remnants of the late Davik Nettles' home, a rough and simple four-foot wide bridge spans the Shrike
You continue south, and soon reach shoddy wooden watchtower guarding the northern outskirts of Elmere. You see no one.
"Heh, mischief is still hiding! Lucky, Garborn is most patient man."
Looking around, Garborn begins to stroke his beard, assuming a thoughtful expression.
"Remember this place, used to play in this area as a little un'. Memories...
Kissed girl over there, by big rock. Little red head, freckles, green eyes..."
"You grew up around Elmere?" Vladimir asks. "Somewhat surprising that no one is here. We should have a look. As much as I do not care for Woelder Hague, I would hate to think that Dovan has moved on Elmere."
"Indeed. The lack of people is a bit concerning," says Marisol. The swordswoman pushes some of her black locks out of her eyes and mutters, "Hm. Time for a trim."
As you crest the hill upon which the abandoned watchtower sits, you see the village of Elmere a half mile or so down the path.
You see a few dark furry creatures lying in the shade under a large oak - just west of the village (on the right side of your path ahead)
"Maybe Hague is saving the pitchforks and torches until you, uh, enter town, proper."
"Huh, wolves over there...strange. Wolves usually not come so close to villages."
"Dire wolves, perhaps?" suggests Marisol.
"Wolves? Dire wolves? I am not sure it matters one way or the other. This close to the village, it can not mean anything good." Vladimir says pulling out his longbow.
"A mystery! Maybe we find mischief at last? Now we follow direct rout to problem.
Garborn have observed in past that direct route often involve violence, hehe."
As you move closer to the village, the wolves ahead and to your right stir. One casually trots toward Elmere while looking sidelong at you. The other three inch toward you... their snarling snouts come out from under the shade of the large oak into the light.
They look like they might be a little larger than most wolves, but not unnaturally so.
Arliss keeps his voice low... "Oh... I see them. Should I.. take the horses and get clear of here?"
"Large wolves, but still possible for normal wolves to get big like that.
Wolves, but not shy.
Strange, but could be exciting!"
Nico says, "That may be a good idea, Arliss. Uh, slowly might be best." He turns to the others. "I do have a fireball spell prepared today. Though, uh, it may set the grass on fire."
"I guess I could use a bow," says Marisol. "Seems odd that they would head toward the town."
Durielle gracefully slides from Whisper's saddle. She speaks softly in the nervous mare's ear stroking her horsey snout. The elf gently encourages the horse towards Arliss then moves between Nico and Marisol.
She draws her longbow and readies an arrow to draw if they are attacked. Well, she starts to anyway but quite suddenly she feels a shuddering through her whole body, and she begins to cough horribly.
Her head spins for a moment, but it ends as quickly as it started.
"I'm alright, I'm alright..." Durielle gasps, her breathing heavy. Her face is paler and more sallow than usual, and she's rather unsteady on her feet. As she raises her bow, her hands tremble, but her eyes are steady with determination. She slows her breathing and regains her composure.
Suddenly, her silver yes are far away...
"These wolves..." Durielle mutters. Her voice trails off and she doesn't finish her thought. She shakes her head, her eyes once again looking sharp. "Be careful, my friends. Please be careful."
"Alright, we have three heading this way. Arliss, get clear with the horses and we will take care of this." Vladimir says firing an arrow in the direction of the closest approaching wolf.
Garborn puts two fingers against his lips and gives a shrill whistle.
"Come Darkstar, come Whitefang! Is time to play!"
Vladimir's arrow strikes one of the three snarling wolves... it yelps in pain. All three suddenly dart toward Elmere. The one already heading that way picks up its pace.
"Garborn thinks...these wolves might be tame, now they go to warn master.
Maybe..."
"Either way we need to find out." Vladimir says heading toward Elmere.
"Setting them on fire would seem to be, uh, premature."
You enter Elmere on the north side. This north/south wagon trail runs through the center of the village. You see the chapel ahead at the center of Elmere... the only structure positioned to require a deviation of the main thoroughfare. You see dark shapes surrounding it - which appear to be wolves.. roughly six or seven hundred feet away.
All the structures around you are shut and shuttered. You see no one around... not a soul.
Through the alleys you catch sight of a few wolves on either side of you... keeping pace a structure or two away.
Nico uneasily surveys the seemingly-deserted town. "Either everyone has fled and, uh, taken care to...lock...up....first...Did you see...?" He stops suddenly and stares at the second story window where he saw motion. "There is someone up there."
He turns around to scan the buildings behind them and more motion catches his eye. He says, quietly,"Um, wolves pacing us. Both sides, one street over."
"I saw the person in second story window." Vladimir confirms while continuing to move.
He pauses briefly when Nico mentions the wolves. "Oh that is just lovely."
"My friends, I think we should stop and decide if proceeding is the best option." The oracle speaks softly but with a serious tone.
"Consider that these wolves may have displayed some aggression, but at the first sign of actual conflict, they ran from us." Durielle gestures to their flanks. "Now Nico is telling us there are more wolves, but they are pacing us as if only observing us and what we plan to do next. If this is a trap, then we are blindly walking into it."
She surveys the buildings around them and frowns slightly when she notices the activity by the window.
"I suspect a more intelligent design at work than a simple wolf pack." Durielle looks nervous. "Perhaps we should be cautious and retreat for now."
The elf's silver eyes glitter in the morning sun. "I doubt that not ere long, whomever has caused this change in Elmere will come to us." She points back towards where they left Arliss. "We may find that fortifying our own position or at least forcing whomever is responsible to meet us in more neutral ground might be a better decision."
"Well, if trap, as soon as we walked in, trap close no?
Maybe road back closed already? Wolves fast, easily loop behind us and cut road off."
"I'm with Durielle. We may already have sprung the trap, but let's make them work for it."
As you discuss your next move, a few of the wolves in the center of the village rise.. and appear to take notice. Two of the eight within clear view are noticeably larger.
"Worgs." Vladimir says gesturing toward the two larger wolves. "I am beginning to believe that you are right about the trap, Durielle. As Nico has said, let us make them work for it."
"I think our options on actions are dwindling the longer we dawdle," Durielle whispers anxiously. "We need to decide to retreat immediately and with haste or pick a place to make our stand. If the latter, perhaps trying to get into one of these cottages or stores will help us control the directions from which we are vulnerable."
Her eyes dart in the direction of the two-storied structure where evidence of life had been witnessed in the window above in a silent suggestion. She again places arrow to bow while awaiting her comrades' input, ready to draw and fire in the event of an attack by the worgs and wolves.
Vladimir nods and looks around. "To the closest building we can control the flow of enemies from, preferably with places to continue missile fire from as well."