Aelion, Jathal, Kra'el, Ingra and Cecilia of the Crimson Lash give chase to the party of goblinoid raiders. Jathal is able to help Aelion pick up the tracks within the town walls once the group move away from the gatehouse and they find that the goblins turned abruptly north.
Following a trail of scuff marks and scrapes the group passes Chatrenn and Sons, the inn inside the western gate. The trail leads up to the docks on the banks of the Elsir river, and possibly turns eastward toward the bridges, or it might head down one of the piers toward the water. It's hard to make out among the general wear and tear on the docks from the merchant traffic.
Javos, Dinvirte and Dayana are left behind at the gatehouse with the goblin prisoner and the four members of Eldremma Axenhaft's security company. The two guards with halberds return to their posts once everyone else has left, but the other two take up a position near the captive creature, intrigued by the spectacle.
The goblin glances up at the group with its beady red eyes.
"Мен сіздерге рұқсат бермейінше ештеңе айтпаймын!"
Dinvirte is able to translate for the others: "I'm not saying nothing unless you untie me!"
The guards can't give Zalindra an honest answer, as none of them speak the goblin tongue, and so with nothing useful to go on, and Kra'el refusing to take her with him, the young rogue sets off toward home. She takes the backstreets, avoiding much of the chaos and destruction, taking small comfort in the relative silence as she passes by the town cemetery adjacent to the temple of Erathis.
Her head downcast, watching the cobble stones in the pale moonlight, Zalindra runs almost right into Eshan Jarmaan, who only just throws his arms up to stop her at the last minute. The young lord leads a small contingent of Lion Guards through the streets in the direction of the market square. His long, blonde, hair is pulled back to reveal a strong, handsome face. His piercing blue eyes reflect the light of fires still burning in the distance, but suddenly his concern shifts solely to the wellbeing of his friend.
"Zalindra! Praise the gods you're safe, what are you doing out here?" Eshan questions the rogue, a furrow creasing his brow.
So as the group comes to a stop, Cecilia turns to their trackers. "Which way did they go?" She asks Aelion and Jathal.
The dragonborn draws his longsword and holds it in both hands, point down in front of himself. Kra'el kneels and bows his head to the pommel of the sword. Lord of Justice, grant me the wisdom to find my foes, that I may vanquish them and protect the innocent.
Bahamut doesn't care much for words, but the dragonborn would only get in the way of the elves here.
Jathal looks around in irritation. "Damn crowds." She grouses.
She studies the tracks carefully. Thinking that stealing a boat and using the river to escape is a smart plan. But she isn't experienced with boats and docks to detect if one is missing?
Seeing her friend Eshan, she first tells him about the gates that were overrun by the goblin horde, so that he can defend them if necessary. If he is in a hurry, that is all she says.
If he has the time and the inclination to ask further, she spills out the whole story, focusing on how the museum was ransacked, her grandfather taken, and her desire to find and retrieve him, but that she doesn't have anyone willing to include her in a rescue party because she is human and can't see in the dark, and how racist and unfair and stupid that is (she likes Eshan and doesn't want to cry in front of him, but it has been a long day, and she breaks down in frustration and sorrow)... "it isn't like humans don't have torches, and haven't been functioning in the dark for thousands of years..." and then, her tears spent and realizing that she has started rambling, she trails off and apologizes for taking up his time when he needs to be defending the town. She says she should go home and get some rest.
Like Jathal, Aelion regarded the docks, suspicious that the goblins could have stolen a boat. If they had, was there any real chance of stopping them now?
"One moment - maybe I just need an overview of these tracks," he said, stepping back to get perspective on the mess.
And just like that, that the group had split.
The Tiefling scratched the spot where an arrow had struck his shoulder. More like that armor protected you, he thought.
*******After translating the goblin’s words******
Din shrugged, ”I don't know about you two but, I'm fine with leaving it tied up for a while. Until we take care if other things,” he nudged the goblin with his boot, ”Maybe he'll reconsider?”
"Do you think a little pain would encourage or discourage it from answering?"
Her shoes scuff against the ground as she comes over to crouch by the goblin, a distasteful look painted across her features as she eyes it. "Butchery is not my style, nor do I advocate for such... But the threat of pain alone may be sufficient to loosen its slimy little tongue. Dinvirte, if you're the only one here who can speak its tongue, you'll have to at least translate our efforts, if not take the lead in interrogating it."
"Gah no time! If they're in a boat, then there's no catching them. You keep looking for tracks, I'm gonna look for blood."
Head injuries bleed for a while, if that's where he is hurt, chances are they haven't stopped to bandage him up and the jostling might keep the wound open. At least I hope so, for his sake
He glances at one of the guards, "Have some rope, handy? I need about-" he looks at the goblin and the frame on the gatehouse, "ten feet? Maybe a bit more if you have it to be on the safe side."
By some stroke of luck, among the confusion of the dock, Ingra spots the shine of fresh blood on the wooden pier and points it out to the elven trackers.
Aelion quickly picks up the trail, moving down the pier something stands out to the elf. Strands of frayed rope and a cut mark on a mooring post. Along with Jathal, the group are able to confirm their fears that the goblins stole a boat from here and escaped on the river.
Dinvirte nudges the goblin before Dayana stoops down to examine the poor wretch, as bruised and broken as it is naturally ugly. As Dayana threatens torture and Javos requests a fresh length of rope the guards begin to look uneasy.
"Woah there, he looks pretty badly beat up already, are you sure you want to put him through any more? Goblins are cowards at heart, if you start breaking fingers or whatever, they’ll say anything to make the pain stop. You’ll be left with a bunch of lies.”
Eshan reassures Zalindra that the gates have all been secured, that he has just been to check on the South Gate himself while patrolling for any remaining threats.
”When I passed by the museum I feared the worst. But you are still here, and it sounds like your grandfather still lives too. He’s a strong old man, I’m sure he won’t give those green-skins an easy time.”
Eshan pulls his friend close in a tight embrace before continuing.
”From what I’ve heard Sertanian wasn’t the only one taken tonight. I’m heading back to the market square to inform the others. If you need rest, I won’t keep you, but if I can convince the council to send another search party, I’ll get a runner to fetch you before they leave. You deserve to be out there looking for your old man.”
Zalindra hugs Eshan tight. Thank you so much.
Then, to make it less awkward, she adds I'm still going to beat you at cards though, you do realize that, right?
Jathal sighs, "A pox on clever bastards!". She looks around for another boat to borrow. "Upriver or down?" She ask the others, hoping that someone knows how to handle a boat?
Ingra looks at the elf in amazement.
"Ya can't be serious? It's one thing ta follow 'em in tha dark when there's tracks. It's mad to think we can do anything from a boat. A boat, mind you that can carry him she gestures at Kra'el And me, plus the lot of ya, isn't exactly gonna be small nor fast.
The very best we can do is to head for the bridge and hope they either went in that direction, were seen coming on land, or we follow the tracks of the mob who retreated after attacking the gates.
My bets on that last option.
And then, and THEN we'd need to save the old man from a regrouped goblin force.
At this stage, we'd have better luck guessing where they are. Maybe the locals have an idea of any ruins or caves near by where they would go to?
But I sure as hell ain't getting in a boat unless it's to go from this side ta that side faster than going to the bridge."
She doesn't want to be heartless, but there's a line. A boat chase is that line.
She walks to the edge of the dock, gazing across the darkness to the other side of the river to see if there are any signs of the goblins simply crossing it rather than traveling up or down.
But she sees nothing but black water and shadow.
"Now this is a stretch, but anyone know how the little buggers feel about open water? Or daylight? Anything that will give us an idea of if they would simply go straight across or where they would seek shelter at day break? Seems knowing our enemy is the one chance we have to gain any direction now."
Aelion touched Jathal's shoulder lightly, guessing at what was going through her mind. She was always direct, one of the reasons he liked her. "I hate to admit it, Jathal, but the dwarf is right. There's no hope of catching them on the water. The best we can do is try to reason where they have gone, and find a faster way there. We promised our aid - I don't take that lightly. But there's a border between duty and futility. Let's stay on the right side of that border."
Turning to Ingra and the others, he added, "I've mostly seen the countryside from above - let me think if I can remember anywhere those troglodytes would go to ground in large numbers. Do any of you know of any areas shielded from the light?"
Hmf. Aid another, anyone? :P
"Still," she continues, slightly louder, "we do need to draw the information from it somehow. If not with pain, then with something else. Do you lot think a goblin would accept offers of leniency in return for cooperation?" Dayana glances back to Dinvirte and Javos.
Do we imagine ourselves to be so callous during times of peace? No. Crisis reveals the truth.
The dragonborn turns and begins moving back toward the gatehouse where they left the rest, though he pauses for the others to catch up.
Jathal glares out over the river as if it had personally offended her. Ignoring the words of the others she sighs, letting her desire to hunt and kill leave her for now. Shrugging she turns to the rest of the party. "Alright, back to the bridge then." She agrees without any great enthusiasm.
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"You all speak as though this rescue mission was already over." Cecilia said, clenching her fists. "You say that you will wait for dawn, or stay and reason on where these goblins might have gone? Sertanian does not have such time."
Shaking her head, she began to walk, her boots heavy against the wooden planks of the pier. "I intend to investigate the bridge, search the other side of the lake, interrogate every citizen and guard we encounter, and more if it is required of us. Miss Freston would expect nothing less..."
The bard moved away at a fast walk, seemingly uncaring on whether the other members of the group followed her.
Big talk for someone who can't see where they're going.
She waited for someone to lead the way, not sure if the bard knew where she was going.
The bard's words hurt more than she could have known. Aelion felt the cut of his promise to aid the old man proving empty, but didn't know what else there was that he could do. With Bryn, he could easily have picked up the trail, even raided them himself. Now... all he could do was go to the bridge, and look into the darkness.
He shouldered his bow and went without meeting Jathal's eyes.
Kra’el begins to move away from the docks, momentarily losing faith in himself, if not his god. Jathal and Ingra stop the dragonborn though, and after a rousing speech from Cecilia, the group moves on to their next best hope in the chase.
When the party arrives at the market square, they see that the battle they witnessed on their way through earlier has indeed ended and that the people of Brindol have emerged shaken, but victorious. Members of the Golden Lions mill around, alongside more mercenaries from Eldremma Axenhaft's security company, as well a few well-armed citizens. A collection of healers from the Temple of Erathis have gathered in The Red Door inn and are using it as a temporary aid station to treat the wounded.
In the centre of the square, several members of the town council have assembled to hold an emergency meeting. Eshan Jaarman appears to be trying to convince Eoffram Troyas of something. The Lord Warden and Lord Gunter don’t look particularly impressed. Lady Sanja seems to be more favourable to whatever Eshan is trying to communicate, but she seems tired, and more than a little unnerved by the general state of the town.
The bridges north across the Elsir are blackened and bloody, a distressingly familiar motif this dark night. Several guards idle on the bridge, with a stronger contingent on the far side, keeping the gatehouses secure.
As Dinvirte and Javos fail to offer up an answer to Dayana’s question, one of the guards steps forward to fill the silence. ”If it can feel the sting of a knife, it can appreciate the absence of one. Likewise for a day in the stocks. If it’s smart enough…”
The lead mercenary steps forward to cut off her comrade’s musings.
”Whether it’s execution or the dungeon, that call rests with the Lord Warden. We should send a runner to the market square to inform him there’s a live one here. I’m sure the Lion Guards have their own questions they want answered.”
A grin cracks Eshan’s sombre face, reminding Zalindra of the lord’s more jovial side.
”Only you could find a way to make me laugh on a night like this. I’ll see you at Ilya’s when this is all over and we’ll put that claim to the test.” With that, Eshan takes his leave, continuing off towards the gathering crowd in the market square, leaving Zalindra alone again, outside the town cemetery.
The changeling pauses to stretch briefly before setting off at a comfortably brisk jog in the direction of the designated square — assuming no one objected, of course. She let her thoughts wander as she went along, though little of true substance came forth; worrying over ponderings and concerns already voiced like a dog with a bone, and wondering about the wellbeing of some of Brindol's other residents. I hope Emma's alright.
Dayana sets off at a brisk pace through the western gate and past the inn, Chatrenn and Sons. Continuing, with haste, the changeling passes the headquarters of the Axenhaft guards, and then the Alpenglow Trading House as she rushes along the cobbled street.
When she arrives at the market square, she sees that the battle the group had witnessed on their way through earlier has ended and that the people of Brindol have emerged shaken, but victorious. Members of the Golden Lions mill around, alongside more mercenaries from Eldremma Axenhaft's security company, as well a few well-armed citizens. A collection of healers from the Temple of Erathis have gathered in The Red Door inn and are using it as a temporary aid station to treat the wounded.
In the centre of the square, several members of the town council have assembled to hold an emergency meeting. The Lord Warden is barking orders to some of the city guards while Lords Gunter and Troyas try their best to console Lady Sanja who has become more than a little overwhelmed by the sight of the town in chaos.
The bridges north across the Elsir are blackened and bloody, a distressingly familiar motif this dark night. Several guards idle on the bridge, with a stronger contingent on the far side, keeping the gatehouses secure.
Her mismatched gaze drifts over the square as she finally arrives, taking in the scene. After a short moment Dayana squares her shoulders and approaches the Lord Warden, although she waits until he either stops barking orders for a moment or notices her presence before raising her voice to speak above the din: "M'lord, there is a captured goblin by the Western gate. Additionally, the curator of the Hall of Valor has been abducted, as well as a number of the items in his collection."
... It's not rude to add as an afterthought that a man was abducted by goblins instead of making it her main statement, right?
The public face of the city council, and commander of the city militia, Lord Warden Harrik Orenna turns to face Dayana. His uniform gleams in the firelight, the orange light flickering across a the golden breastplate. The Lord Warden is a tall and heavily muscled man. He has dark brown eyes and his curly hair is the colour of steel.
Staring down at the young woman, the Lord takes on a hard to read expression.
After considerable pause, he speaks up. "The Hall of Valor raided? And the curator abducted? This is grave news indeed, but not the first I have received tonight. This captured goblin however, now that is something more intriguing. Has the creature been questioned?"
Zalindra grins back at Eshan, for a moment forgetting the events of the dark night, only to have them crash back down as he leaves. Normally unafraid to travel alone on her many trips, she shivers on this night... the cemetery and so many of the familiar surroundings of her life seeming now strange and menacing.
She returns to the museum and spends some time setting things right as much as possible, and then, feeling unsafe because of the events of the night and also because of the broken door, she barricades herself in her room before laying down.
She hadn't thought she could sleep, but her body, tired and exhausted from battle, firefighting, anger, and worry, proves her wrong. She has a last thought of Eshan's grin... the one bright spot in her suddenly darkened life. She knows that he will keep his word and send for her, and with faith in that one surety, she surrenders to slumber.
She stares up silently at the man a second or two longer before shifting the topic to Sertanian, "A few people have left Brindol to search for the curator, so perhaps the gods shall show us all some small bit of mercy tonight and return him to us intact." Or perhaps they'll not and we'll only have more corpses on our hands...
The big dragonborn stomps up to the arguing council and manages not to scowl at the tiefling Lady too bad, interrupting their conversation boldly, his voice like an angry storm. "I have fought numerous goblins and an ogre. The creatures claim the Red Hand is back. They have kidnapped Sertanian and stolen several relics. They fled by boat. What are YOU doing about this?"
His piercing gaze smolders toward Eshan and Ariane, mostly. Kra'el's disenchantment with the council and its practices is clearly driving him here. Whether he's projecting his own failure onto them as well, it's possible.
Ingra's focus is on the bridge and what lies beyond it.
It hasn't gone unnoticed that her idol, Lord Gunter, is right in front of her. She hasn't done anything to make her worthy of meeting him yet. Though it appears that the current situation is a higher priority than her own ambitions.
Her focus is drawn back to the council once Kra'el begins speaking. If they were truly to help Brindol, then these people would hopefully know where to start.
"Ingra Stormstone of Hammerfist Hold. We followed best we could, for the old man, but also because of the morale any relic from the War of the Red Hand could give a budding army of goblins.
One of the relics belonged to Azarr Kul himself. Gods know what they're planning to do with it."
Ingra feels very out of place. She shouldn't be the one addressing the council. But the more they knew the better. She had to stop herself going on about what the group had found out, because these people might already know.
Part of her wishes that they had gotten in a boat chase.
Jathal ignores the words of the Bard, noting she hadn't suggested anything useful. She sighs mentally when they reach the bridge and she sees the gathering. 'More talk.' she thinks with annoyance. She hides a smile as Kra'el voices her feelings on the matter.
Aelion surveyed the damage, taken aback by how badly the city was ruined in so short a time. Had an entire army of goblins and ogres simply appeared out of nowhere to attack them? He had thought it was simply a few raiding parties, the vanguard of the army perhaps, but the damage - and carnage - belied it.
Perhaps they could have done more good here. It made the failure to achieve their goal sting all the worse. If they at least had saved the human and his relics...! Failure made their efforts pointless.
Wishing he still had his bottle of spirits, he was distracted from his thoughts by Kra'el's demands of the council. He stifled a smile. Reverence where reverence was due - and not elsewhere. He was coming to like the dragonborn, for all his rough edges.
"They escaped on the water," was his only curt addition to the information Ingra had offered. There was little more to say.
The Lord Warden frowns when he hears that the witch hasn't brought him any useful information but his look softens with her flattery. "The Golden Lions can certainly take the beast off your hands citizen. I will arrange for a patrol to collect it from the West Gate immediately."
Turning around, Harrik scans the market square for some unoccupied guards. His gaze quickly falls on a group of men walking briskly towards the council.
Eshan Jarmaan leads a small contingent of Lion Guards across the market square. His long, blonde, hair is pulled back to reveal a strong, handsome face. His piercing blue eyes burn with determination.
"Ah, the young Lord Jarmaan..." Harrik starts, but Eshan cuts him off.
"Kartenix's house is in flames, no sign of the captain or his boy. On top of that, Zalindra Freston has just informed me that her grandfather has been abducted too, along with some of the relics from their museum."
"Yes, so I've heard." Harrik responds, before taking the younger man aside. The Lord Warden and Eshan continue to compare notes on the attack for a brief while before turning to address the rest of the council.
The news that at least three townsfolk are missing sends Lady Sanja into a new round of tears, while Lords Gunter and Troyas begin to argue. Lord Gunter puts forward the idea that a contingent of Lion Guards be sent out in the morning to track down the goblins. Lord Troyas seems to be suggesting that any rescue attempt would be futile. This opinion does not sit well with Eshan or Lady Sanja, and Eshan begins to argue with the half-elf.
A voice like thunder soon interrupts the councillors "I have fought numerous goblins and an ogre. The creatures claim the Red Hand is back. They have kidnapped Sertanian and stolen several relics. They fled by boat. What are YOU doing about this?"
The stoic dragonborn is soon joined by the other members of Sertanian's rescue party as they jog across the square from the north, echoing parts of Kra'el's tale.
Lord Eshan Jaarman meets Kra'el's glowering red eyes with a piercing set of blue ones.
"If this heartless half-elf would authorise it, we would be arranging a search party right now! I take it you're Zalindra's friends, although perhaps that's a strong word considering the way you left her behind!"
As the young lord steps forward to confront the dragonborn, the slight frame of Dayana standing off to the side of the council, near the Lord Warden, comes into view.
"We just can't spare the guards right now!"Eoffram Troyas responds.
"Well if the rest of you weren't so vehemently against hiring freelancers!" Ariane Sanja shouts, her voice cracking through her tears.
The Lord Warden scoffs. "Freelancers? You mean people like this?" He gestures toward Kra'el and Dayana. "Who can't even follow a pack of hobs, or get a goblin prisoner to speak?"
"Which is exactly why we need to be sending the Golden Lions." Damon Gunter adds. The rest of the councillors glare angrily at one another.
We'd be more than happy ta take ya ta the docks where we lost em so yer clearly more trained eyes can pick the boats trail.
I didn't come up here to get involved with politics, I came ta cross tha bridge and search the bank for a boat.
Yer didn't pay me ta fight the hobgoblins at tha Antler and Thistle, I didn't need yer permission ta go at it with a pitch throwing ogre! Keep yer guards and yer gold. I just need ta cross a bridge cause I told Zalindra I'd bring her grand pappy back and so help me Gord, dead or alive, I'm gonna do it!
Send who ever yer want! But tha only way I'm not going is if I'm in irons or dead. This is a waste of everyone's time! Can't one of you scry into a bucket or something and find the poor man?"
At least Eshan has a nice face to look stare at flatly while she thinks on what to do.
Angry Dwarf is Angry
The changeling blinks owlishly as Ingra rants — when the dwarf is finished, she interjects: "I believe you have made your point, but I believe the goal here is to solve the myriad situations assailing Brindol as quickly and as efficiently as possible, not to insult everyone present and incense tensions further than they already have been by this night."
"Appologies for any disrespect. I only meant we did all we could given the circumstances. All we want is to be allowed to continue the search."
Ingra reigned in her temper, but that wouldn't last for long. If any more talking was to be done, she'd cross the bridge alone if she had to.
And as selfish as it sounded, keeping her word meant more to her than assisting with whatever other problems Brindol was facing.
This threat was imminent. An army could not be allowed to gather under the stolen relics.
Jathal drifts closer to Aelion. Speaking to him quietly.
"If the boat had come this way it would have been seen. It must be traveling west. We could cross the bridge and head west. With a fast pace, and leaving markers behind us, we might be able to find the boat, and then lead the others to it."
"But would they follow us?" Aelion asked, glancing at the others as he kept his voice quiet. "Half are convinced it's a fool's errand - the dwarf is talking about asking permission to continue. You're a capable fighter, Jathal, and I can hold my own, but we can't take on an army, or even a large raiding party, alone."
He shook his head, thinking. "Maybe what we need to get the others with us is the "command" of the city council. They may even have resources we could take advantage of. Bide a moment, while I speak with them. If their answer is no, I'll still go with you, and we'll find what we can. I won't abandon my promise."
Raising his voice, he stepped forward. "Councilors, the relics that were stolen must have great significance, perhaps even magic, that the Red Hand will undoubtedly unleash against Brindol if given the chance. Sertanian might hold the key to this magic - why else would they have taken him? And there's no reason to believe that he was the only target of such a widespread raid."
"If you have resources to bring to bear, I believe this to be a significant tipping point to use them. Hobgoblins are bad enough, but if all goblinkind and ogres and who knows what else unites under the banner of the Hand once more, Brindol may not exist to regret it in a year's time. And though you have spoken scornfully of our tracking skills, as Ingra said, if you are more skilled than the Tiri Kitor you are welcome to join us and lead the way. If you don't wish to, give us what aid you can, and we will see the Red Hand foiled in this matter. Jathal has a plan for picking up the trail, and they can't be moving fast with at least one prisoner, maybe more. Out in the veldt we should be able to spot them from afar, and save time. Or if the goblin we took prisoner will talk, we may be able to go directly where they're headed."
He couldn't help the slight tinge of disdain that crept into his voice. "We have offered to aid you, aid the city, with no questions asked. Will you do less?"
With narrowed eyes, Kra'el steps up to the Lord Warden and speaks loudly enough for all to hear. "Send "freelancers" or send the Golden Lions. But do nothing and you fail your people."
It would serve her better to wait for an opportunity to speak. And so the bard took a step back, removed her wide-brimmed hat, and waited patiently. During this pause, she looked around the war-torn market square. She tried to see if she recognised anyone in the crowd, or could spot anything else of importance.
Kra'el's booming voice rings through the market square, turning more than a few heads.
The Lord Warden, the public face of the council, and commander of the city militia falls uncharicteristically silent. His tall, muscular frame seems almost waiflike beside the dragonborn. His dark brown eyes fall toward the floor.
The rest of the council look around sheepishly the words of Ingra and Aelion sink in.
Lord Gunter is the first to speak. "The elf is right, the relics can't be left with the goblins, if a new Red Hand is on the rise, the boost to their morale they would bring would be too great."
Running his fingers through his steely hair, the Lord Warden considers Kra'el's ultimatum. "Very well, it sounds like perhaps we have gotten off on the wrong foot. By the sounds of things, you have already done much in the service of this town. If you are here to offer more, then we are truly grateful."
"The Lion Guard can provide horses to carry you and your companions to where it is you need to be. If your friends haven't gotten the goblin to talk yet, and you're willing to stick around until morning, we can see if it can provide any clues as to where the new Red Hand are camped."
Eshan steps forward then. "Before you leave, I promised Zalindra that I would not allow another party to leave the city without her. If you intend to go tonight, I'll send a runner to fetch her now.We can send someone to the gate to collect the others as well."
Jathal stays as calm as always. "Hobgoblins and Goblins aren't noted for being sailors. Taking that boat was a cunning move to lose any pursuers. With the attacks on the bridges and gates no one would have been watching the docks. Only chance had us there to stumble on that trail. But They can't have gone far in the boat. Most likely they've already landed and are heading away. A large group, with a prisoner will leave a trail we can find!"
That said she checks her arrows and other equipment is in place and heads over the bridge, waiting for whoever is coming to join her.
"Yes, we should not delay." The bard said to the other members of the party, suddenly feeling renewed. "Even if we can't find the goblins tonight, we still might be able to find clues or evidence pointing towards their destination.
Turning towards Lord Gunter, Cecilia gave the man a rather theatrical bow. "We appreciate your assistance, Lord Warden. The horses you offered would be most useful in our pursuit. Rest assured that I -Cecilia of the Crimson Lash- shall not rest until these artifacts are returned and our friend is free once again."
With a flourish of her hat, the bard turned away. Once their business is concluded, she joins the elf over by the bridge.
Aelion accepted a horse from the Lord Warden, and one for Jathal, before joining the others on the bridge.