Through Jaylen's heightened perceptions, he believes that the lord isn't being completely honest about the topic, though his rage is quite genuine.
"So, what's the plan when we get to their location? Are we striding in like we own the place, or sneaking about like stealthy guys who sneak around?"
That is the thing, I cannot think of where they could be going. Other than fleeing to cross the border, an unlikely move given your thoughts about their motivations, there is nowhere for them to run to that wouldn't give them up to me once we arrived. It doesn't answer your request directly, but I am sure where the location is affects how you will approach it.
"I'm sure that we can do both. This story is not as it seems. Eh, Sir knight?
"Hopefully, we are just dealing with the evil in the hearts of mortals, as opposed to forces of pure evil" Thovin suggests.
Sevren nods at Cade's consideration. "Yes, let us see the place and decide on a plan. I, for one, would not leave the bride in their hands a moment longer than necessary."
Jaylen’s gaze lingers on the lord for a moment but he says nothing of what he deduced. Also unsure of where these brigands were taking thier hostage, the soldier channels his frustration into effort while tracing the criminals down.
Discussing little more on the long journey, 2 days pass, the tracks left by the kidnappers easy to follow. The imprint of horse hooves is clear and distinct, and it is clear they made no attempt to hide their movements. Camping both nights to rest your horses, the darkness is quiet and drawn out, with the mood of the situation hanging in the air.
On the third day of the hunt, the party comes within sight of a scene of carnage. 3 horses lie dead on the ground, though from the distance, it is hard to tell from what. The contents of their saddlebags have been scattered about area. A small forested area, almost similar to what a park would have been, lies straight north of the scene. It is clear to see from here that it has been disturbed recently, with a path of broken branches leading into the underbrush, though it is impossible to see from your distance away what has happened. The party has stopped about a half mile, if not slightly more, away, with the bright noon soon shedding its light upon their faces.
Cade hops down from the carriage and stretches before drawing his blade and moving forward to inspect the carnage.
Sevren follows after Cade, very suspicious and curious about this scene of wreckage.
Jaylen places his hand over his eyes and says a few ancient words. His eyes change to those of an animal allowing him to see in the dark.
Then, letting anyone that wants to approach on foot do so and get a small lead, Jaylen clicks the horse and anyone left of the party mounted, urging them forward slowly toward the grisly scene.
Thovin gets out of the carriage. He is an average-sized hill dwarf with a burnt orange hirsute beard. Over scale mail, he wears traveling clothes, an amulet, and a backpack. His weapon’s harness carries a Warhammer and handaxe.
The haunted dwarf readies his shield with an emblem of a flaming Warhammer that matches the amulet. And, he prays to Tharmekhûl and goes to investigate the grisly scene.
Approaching the scene carefully, the images become more disturbing. While it is quite apparent that these horses are dead, it is also easy to see that whatever killed them was brutal. All three necks are snapped, as well as multiple other bones. Large rip marks run along their flanks, like a set of talons had slashed into them, coating the ground in blood. The saddlebags were torn open by the same set of appendages, scattering food and supplies everywhere. Three sets of footsteps lead into the forest, like a hasty retreat was made, sending whoever it was crashing through the branches into the darkened grove.
"The attackers look monstrous with the size of those talons and how these horses were killed. Do we have time to investigate? Tracks lead off in that direction." Thovin observes.
Sevren looks at the ground, troubled. "I fear we may have little time. We should pursue immediately."
"Are these the horses that we're pursuing with the bride? I never saw them. If yes, then what are we waiting for?" Thovin asks.
Jaylen rides around the area inspecting scene looking for any sign of falsification. His elven training allowing him to learn a great deal from a situation like this.
If he finds nothing suspect, he will follow the tracks into the woods.
- other questions he is looking to answer
Is the bride running on her own accord or forced?
Any of the people fleeing wounded? IE blood.
How far ahead of us are they? How long ago did they come through here?
Any idea what attacked them?
From the party's combined knowledge and skills, they do not recognize any sign of natural predation. Whatever killed the horses left them as they were, though despite being only a day or two old, are already showing signs of a fast decay.
These horses are also recognizable as the ones ridden by the kidnappers, though it is clear to see that not all of the horses are present.
Jaylen notices several previously unmentioned aspects of the scene. The bride's footsteps, which should have been the smallest of the group, are strangely missing. It seems that at least one member of the group was wounded, as blood is in the leaves leading into the grove. Whatever attacked them was not a natural animal, and they only were about a day ahead of you. It is hard to tell how far ahead of you they would be on foot now though.
Cade begins following the bloodtrail.
Jaylen mentions ”It appears, some of the other horses eluded us. The lady doesn’t seem to be present. We need to find these survivors and find out more information. “
He then takes the lead following the trail while keeping alert for more danger.
Sevren nods. "Yes we must get to the bottom of this at once." He looks disdainfully at the forest, noting all of the sharp twigs that will catch on his newly-cleaned robes and sighs. "Why is it impossible for a respected official to retain a respectable appearance!?"
Dismounting, the party follows the trail, with Jaylen in the lead. Only about a minute intoin the grove, in what can be estimated to be around the center of the trees, a small clearing lies, almost perfectly circular. In it, two men stand, quite visibly distressed, and it is easy to recognize their features as those of the half elf raiders you faced at the wedding, though both seem to be lacking swords at this point in time. Their backs are to the trail, and they block the party from viewing anything inside of the clearing itself. Their dark armor is torn in places, and blood is splattered across their backs. They do not seem to have noticed you, or do not pay you any mind if they have.
Sevren eyes the men and whispers to his allies. "Whatever happened there did something horrible to those fellows... I wouldn't be shocked if we found more undead on our hands... Let's move quietly up behind them then call for their surrender.
Realizing Cassius is not with them, Thovin expects an ambush now.
He readies his shield.
"Now now, gentlemen. Overwhelming likelihood of death is no reason to keep a damsel in distress waiting." says Cade as he strides into the clearing.
Magic flows through Sevren's words as he enhances Cade's natural prowess. The halfling steps forward behind the men, who even hearing his voice simply step to the side, allowing the party to see into the center of the clearing.
The familiar body of a halfling lies in the center of a dimly glowing circle, his armor thrown to the side and his stomach torn open. His face is frozen in a scream, very different from the cocky image of him seen earlier. His sword lies by his side, and a clear gem lies on the other.
The two half elves look extremely drained, and just gave an empty stare at their mutilated comrade, silent.
Turning to one of the men, Cade begins barking orders "You! what happened here?" he then turns to the other and says "You! cover up his body! Wasn't he your friend? What's wrong with you?"
"By Tharmekhûl, that's gruesome," observes Thovin.
He issues a quick prayer to the Divine Assist to assist him investigating.
Sevren follows them forward with a strained expression on his face. "Gruesome indeed. What caused this?"
Jaylen steps up to observe. With a frustrated sigh, unphased by the carnage, he turns to the half elf twin. Adding to Cade’s orders, the rangers asks a simple question. ”where is she?”
The less half-elf looks at Cade and begins to answer, but makes no move to cover the halfling. That bastard of a dwarf did this. That thing attacked us, and when we ran, he was waiting for us. His magic kept us still, and then he did...this. He killed Bernarius, and then did this to the body.
As Jaylen emerges, the other figure points to the opposite end of the clearing, where a single set of footsteps leads out towards the edge of the grove.
Cade moves to the other Halfling fencer and covers the remains in his cape before giving him a salute with his blade.
Turning, he begins to follow the trail without another word to the other kidnappers. For those of you specialize in studying body language, all joviality and lightheartedness are gone from him.
His blade exists for something else today.
Thovin examines the halfling and the area around the body.
Sevren calls to Cade to wait. "One moment! Then we will proceed together! This seems an enemy beyond any one of us."
”What dwarf do you speak of? Jaylen asks quickly trying to gleen what information he could in as little time as possible.
As thovin steps into the circle with the body, the gemstone and circle flash with a blinding light, and then the lines fade, leaving the gemstone glowing faintly. As his examination occurs, it seems that the halfling was killed slowly, with the brutal wound in his stomach being the cause of death. He seemed to provide no resistance to this attack, but his body and armor is battered. Slight burn marks on the ground show where incense or candles could have been burning around his body, and underneath his head are two runes written in dwarvish, signifying a hunter and undeath.
Cade follows the trail out of the opposite side of the grove, where a single set of heavy hoof prints rides off, due north.
We spotted him too late. We approached, and he stepped out of the trees, all ragged looking. He was just tossing a rock back and forth, and as soon as we were close just started laughing loudly, then he threw it in between us, and everything went dark. I felt my horse snatched out from under me, and the wind was moving on its own, real powerful, but only one way, like something flying. We ran, and we made it to here before he paralyzed us. As the half elf ends, a singular tear rolls down his face, trying to fight it.
”Why even go to this trouble? If you wouldn’t have been involved with this kidnapping, no one would be dead. Was it worth it?” Jaylen stares at the half elf waiting for an answer.
"By Tharmekhûl, what's this," Thovin asks of the gemstone
He issues a quick prayer to the Divine Assist to assist him investigating the gemstone.
Cade returns to the group, sheathing his blade as he walks. When he arrives, he says "Looks like a single horse left north of here. We're going to have to leave the carriage, useful though it was. Everyone get your belongings." said Cade as he grabbed his pack then began to unhook one of the horses.
It was worth it to him, but this isn't what he deserved. He didn't kill anybody. Didn't hurt the lady at all, even planned on giving her back once this was over. It's not the right way to end his story.
As Jaylen and the brigand converse, Thovin picks up the gemstone, which drains of light as soon as he touches it. A light mist seeps out of it, floating above the body before forming incorporeal, and image in the exact representation of the halfling lying below, though more of a bluish hue instead of any real color. Looking around confused, the transparent being speaks Where...where am I? Where is everyone? Hello?? Though he looks around, Thovin notices that the crearure's eyes don't lock on anything, as if he cannot see.
Cade begins unpacking the gear, relieving the horse of its harness.
Thovin attempts to speak to transparent halfling, "Can you hear me? What do you last remember?" It's not the weirdest thing that he'd seen.
[B] I don't know...the lady screaming I remember, but not at us any
The halfling's eyes manage to find Thovin's general area, though it appears he does not have his sight restored at this point. I don't know...The lady was screaming, but not at us, nor anymore at least. And then there was the wings, at least that's what it sounded like. We ran into here, and that's when he stepped up, used some powerful spell to hold us all. And then I remember pain...so much pain.
Thovin continues to question the transparent halfling, "Why did you kidnap the bride?"
Stopping what he is doing, Cade instead just mounts up the carriage...when he sees Thovin talking to the air.
"You okay?" he asked of the Dwarven cleric.
Jaylen understands this delay could grant valuable information. He is listening intently to what the halfling apparition has to say.
I did it...for my legend. Had to make a story people would hear about and remember, so I did. Though this one seems to have taken a slightly unorthodox turn with their intervention and all. The image makes a slight shrug, with what sounds like an attempt at laughter, though it comes out as more of a stiffled crying. His head head snaps around towards Cade's voice upon hearing him speak, and it is only then that the image of the halfling spectre becomes apparent to Cade, its eyes wandering aimlessly, trying to find something to lock on to at all. Jaylen easily catches sight of the creature, his keen eyesight picking out the spectral form with ease. Both of the rogue's companions sit on the ground, staring with disbelief at their friend before them.
So, the groom appeared not implicated with these story-building bards. What was this creature? Thovin turned the information in his head.
"Please describe everything you can about the creature that took your life?" The dwarf investigator asks.