Showing the mirror before putting it into his sack, "This'll be good for a few pretty coins", and heads up with the group.
Despite the unlikelyhood of there being any tracks to follow, Angus does point out the tree that the owl was perched on.
"Hey, don't forget about the gems and other shinies. Those should go for a fair price."
Gathering together weapons and equipment, the group carefully and cautiously follow the more northerly path all the way to the privy!
It smells like the soil-pit of a slightly disorganised bandit gang... that's not a good thing.
However, the insects love it!
Pontia waves a hand in front of her face in a futile attempt to drive off some of the smell. "How about that other path, now?"
"Yes, please."
Taking the other path rather speedily the group come across a covered wagon sat alongside a stream.
The stream is rather shallow and the bed clearly takes a lot more water in the winter.
Wheel ruts suggest that the wagon was brought up the river.
The wagon is full of wooden crates. Straw pokes from gaps in the seams. They are stamped with an unfamiliar symbol
Survival
Hyngrot examines the area surrounding the wagon. "It looks like they used the stream to mask their tracks and scent. If we follow it, we might find something. Or we can return."
"Unless anyone feels a pressing need to search their privy, I think that we're done looking around here."
Angus leans against the wagon. His eyes look down at his hand, then back to the group.
"Has anyone searched this thing?"
"No. Let's take a look. Gonna check to see if they rigged it somehow."
While Hyngrot searches the wagon, Pontia sketches the device on the crates for later reference.
Daxius will depend on Hyngrot's expertise as to whether or not it would be feasible to follow the wagon's tracks back to where it entered the stream.
He takes a closer look at the markings on the crates.
Angus, with a mischievous gleam in his eyes, helps Hyngrot search the wagon.
The wagon has no traps and contains, beside the crates, only a single discarded copper coin and half of a broken wooden comb.
There are six crates, all nailed shut; how are you going to open them?
Angus looks at the crates and motions waves bove Hyngrot and Daxius over.
"Can you two help me with this."
"Well, if no one knows the symbol, might as well open the thing up and see what we find, maybe tell us what it is." Hyngrot works to open the crates.
"I've a mace...if we can find some kind of wedge, we could have an impromptu crowbar."
Daxius watches with distaste. Or, we could return them to their rightful owner, unopened. He makes no move to help his companions with the pillaging, nor does he stop them.
"I...would want to see just who that proper owner is, Soldier. We already have strong indications that the bandits had Wiscrani patrons, and were carrying out their activities at the behest of those patrons. This is likely loot to be returned, yes, but there's a chance it's actually a payoff."
Feeling a bit abashed at so quickly turning into a petty looter. "You've a point, Soldier. But so does Scholar. And how would we transport these back?"
"Or we could just check and see if there's anything of use."
Yes. Perhaps there is a horse inside one of those crates, to pull the wagon. That would be useful.
"Wow. I thought Sarcasm was against the code of the Ye Olde Order of the Stick-up-me-ass Knights. 'Sides I thought every noble in this damned place worshiped devils and demons."
Angus examines the crate before trying to pry the lid off.
His hand slips and he winds up cracking his jaw against the crate.
"Ow."
These crates are well-made and tightly sealed.
You'll need some kind of leverage to get them open.
"How long would it take us to go back for a team to pull the wagon back, Hunter?"
It will take three days. One on foot to Westcrown, one to return here with the horses, and one to haul the wagon back to Westcrown. This is the course of action I propose. The loss of this wagon and its goods could mean disaster to a merchant enterprise.
"Assuming that the merchants in question survived the loss of their wagon, that is. Nevertheless, that's the right thing to do. Should we conceal the wagon before we leave?"
"No one's talking about keeping whatever is in the crates, the concern is what's in them." Hyngrot leaps down from the wagon, searching about for a stick of some form to provide leverage. "I don't recognize that symbol, and going by no one else saying anything seems pretty much all of us." Finding a good stick he comes back to the wagon. "Now it could be rolls of silk or pretty vases. Or it could be the bodies of kids disguised for some vile magicky type. No offense to you Scholar, you ain't vile. But either way, I want to know what they were stealing. Unless you still have a problem, Soldier?" Hyngrot takes the crate and gets to work opening it.
I believe I have made my opinion clear.
Breaking open the first crate, Hyngrot and Angus find lots of strange pieces of glass and pottery. Most are quite delicate and they are all carefully packed.
Opening a few more crates it quickly becomes clear to Nicolai that
"Fine work. Do any of you know what they're for? Not enough consistency to be formal place settings or elegant dinnerware, unless the customer is rather eccentric."
Nicolai looks about at the various items, when it dawns on him. Looking to the others he points, "That's an alchemist's lab! And a decent one, too!"
Peering again, "A lot of the stuff is geared for concocting poisons. Wonder what they are doing with this stuff?"
Craft (alchemy)
"Perhaps this is the alchemist's gear the message referred to. If so, the device may belong to the bandits' mysterious backer. Let's close these up and get back to Westcrown for some draft animals."
Angus gives a smug look to Daxius after Nicolai's proclamation.
Hyngrot sneers when Nicolai mentions poison. "Agreed, about packing it up. We'll head back to Westcrown after." Hyngrot begins moving the lid back in place, using his warhammer for a less bashing in heads purpose. "So what's our next step from here?"
Letter 1:
"Scarro, the time has come to increase your attacks. Do not doubt that your reward will likewise increase. This man, Fisben, will carry any items you wish me to pawn. There are two letters.ED"
Letter 2:
"Scarro, demolish the alchemists gear, it is not worth retreiving. And kill the prisoner, claiming the reward would be too risky. There are two letters.ED"
"I have a sketch of the device on the crates, so even if they've been removed by the time we get back we've still learned something. Perhaps our acquaintance with the stable can loan us a horse or two for a few days." The wizard turns to Angus. "You've been a great help, but unless you're more foolish and idealistic than you look you're better off staying well clear of us. If it makes you feel better, I think we're about to become a thorn in the side of whoever signed your death warrant there, so that's one pursuer you won't have to deal with."
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"Milady, you wound me. What self-respecting Caydenite would pass up a chance to be a thorn in the side of a Devil-worshiping Chelian."
Angus gives Pontia a wide-sweeping bow and a brief kiss on her hand before standing back up straight and grinning like a maniac.
"Besides, how could I leave my good friend Mr. Light-sword!"