WHOOSH!
The huge spiked club swished through their where Erodin was a split second earlier. The ogre's aim was poor and the more he missed, the more heroes had chances to surround him. Blurg's bloodshot eyes darted to and fro, filling with anger at the pesky little men trying to gain a flanking advantage. He bit his lip in concentration, choosing his next attack.
Not far away from the melee the healing energies emanated from the barbarian woman like the soothing claps of distant rolling thunder. Several of the fallen reacted not at all - they were beyond the aid of healing magics. The rest of them began to breathe deeply as their bodies relaxed from the warm energy surrounding them, closing their open wounds and giving them another chance at tomorrow.
"Die you spawn of an alehouse midden!"
Carith proceeds towards the melee, slowing his progress as the warriors from the Inn start to surround their inebriated foe. Instead of charging towards the carnage recklessly, as he did with the rabbit-man, he instead calls upon the Inheritor's powers once again, briefly touching the shoulder of the blonde axe-wielder.
"My Lady, guide this man's weapon so that he may lay waste to these Interlopers upon this fledgling bastion of Order!"
standard action, granting a sacred bonus on attack rolls,
skill checks, ability checks, and saving throws equal to
half your cleric level (minimum 1) for 1 round.
In truly heroic fashion the traveling adventurers banded together to fight this fearsome foe, drawing closer and closer in an attempt to not only surround the ogre, but to subdue him with as much force as could be mustered.
The three warriors' strikes were all turned away by the filthy lice-ridden hides that protected the ogre's body, while Taecuss' arrowhead found a piece of exposed skin, cleanly and deeply piercing flesh. The wound would likely have downed most full grown men, and yet the ogre fought on, more angry than ever!
Blurg was heavily injured now. He had taken enough hits to kill a pair of horses but he was too tough or too stupid to know when to quit. He turned back and forth quickly trying in vain to stop his enemies from surrounding him. Still most angry with the tiefling, he turned his full attention to Erodin once again, bringing down the club like a falling tree. The swing came far too close for comfort, no more than an inch away from the target's head, the wind of it whispering certain death.
---------------
Carith winced as all the warriors' attacks were turned aside by the rudimentary armor of the giant beast, his dismay turning to relief as an arrow suddenly appeared in the ogre's body. To the priest's amazement, the drunken brute continued the fight, nearly taking the tiefling?'s head off with the next swipe of its huge club.
The cleric hoped the warriors would finish off the beast before one of those clumsy swings landed. He didn't know if there'd be anything left for him to heal. To try to turn the odds in their favor, Carith calls for a sliver of Iomedae's power yet again, casting a spell then stepping forward to touch the middle-aged man's back. "Lady, Your justice is almost at hand! Help this man's strike be true!"
before making the roll to which it applies.
Pinto was like a dog with a bone; he would not rest until the ogre was put down for good.
Seeing the tactic employed by the devil-blooded, he followed suit and continued to surround the ogre.
Hoping for better luck this time, he swung his axe once more.
----------
HP 15/15
AC 16, touch 12, flat-footed 14
Conditions: raging song, +2 STR, -1 AC
Melee (hand axe): +4 = +1(base) +3(STR)
Melee Damage (hand axe): 1d6+3 = +3 (str), x3
3/4 Martial Flexibility
4/10 rounds of power attack
Oh how the ogre howled when his knee was shattered by Erodin's hammer, buckling under his now-unsupported weight. The hatred in his eyes turned to fear in the brief second before Pinto's axe swung in, adding the energy of his upward chop to that of the falling ogre. The blade dug into Blurg's neck, severing artery and windpipe in a single move, putting an end to this fairy tale monster.
Turning to assess the situation nearby, it soon became apparent that Blurg was the last of the raiders, and all seemed to be safe...for the moment.
Pinto nodded to his new comrades at arms, "Good work. Thanks for watching my back."
He kicked the ogre a couple of times to make sure it was indeed not getting up, "Drunken fool... the bigger they are..."
He then checked himself and hoped that the blood on his clothes was not his. He hadn't felt any but it wouldn't be the first time that he found out he had been slashed or poked and only realized it after his blood had cooled some.
Satisfied he was OK, he turned to his companions again, "So, devil-blood, where did you learn to fight like that? Pretty risky..."
tag?
"And you, story-teller, I didn't know you could sing. Do you have enough to start penning down our adventures together?"
tag?
As the ogre fell, the priest gave silent thanks to his goddess for her aid in the battle. As the burly man started to banter with his companions and now that more pressing matters were dealt with, Carith trudged over to where the elf was calling for aid.
"I wish we had met under better circumstances, friend. Let us look for the wounded, if you will join me..." The cleric continued toward the intruders' entrance, clambering over the breach in the wall, determined to help any survivors out there. A watch could be established later, after the injured were helped and the dead laid to rest.
Eina sways a moment then staggers to where the others were gathered around the ogre.
”Any *hic* anyone here hurt,” she mumbles.
Eina, now very tired, sways on her feet.
”Never again will I challenge a dwarf to a drinking contest. WIll one of you help me walk back to the inn, please? The ground will not stop moving like a raft on a whitewater river,” she says.
The healing magics employed by the heroes had saved the lives of two gate guards and three commoners who had been repairing the wall when Blurg and his beastmen had come to call. They all stood from where they had fallen, somewhat confused by the turn of events but ready and willing to help in anyway possible.
The bodies were searched and a handful of decent goods were found and set aside. The goat man and pig man both had a notable wound in common - both of their necks showed old deep scars from what looked be a very serious wound, as if their necks were slit with a large blade at some point in their lives. It was the kind of wound that would kill a man, and yet they were obviously alive as they fought here this night. These scars were really the only thing the pair shared in common. A odd wound, but at the moment they seemed little more than a curiosity best set aside.
After a short time a number of nearby residents had arrived on scene, stirred from their beds by a runner, then running themselves to help the community with work close to the inn. Nearly twenty villagers milled about with lanterns, tools, and livestock, all working on dragging the bodies away, expedited wall repair, clean up of the broken glass and wood, and the like. The sun would rise in just a few short hours by the time they were satisfied with the work.
It took two oxen to drag the fat corpse of Blurg from where he fell to a place about fifty feet beyond the wall. There they also deposited the bodies of the two fallen beastmen. They had no intention of burying the wretches, and so a bonfire was all they had planned.
At some point during the evening Cortland and his guards emerged from the inn. The trio looked at the remnants of combat and saw the five - no, six? - adventurers with barely a scratch. The nobleman raised an eyebrow and smiled,
"You will do well out there in the wilds. I am impressed! I believe a bonus is in order. Yes, quite. I want you all to get a good block of sleep before departing tomorrow, but do come see me before you go. I must reward you for a job well done."
---------------
Lootz:
Also there is Blurg's large greatclub, his hide armor, several days of rotting food found in the ogre's sack.
Carith, you are offered the veritas badge by Cortland, just as the others here were in the inn earlier this night. Feel free to RP this or not to.
Brandt will help Eina back to the inn, and make her drink as much water as she can hold. "It was a good try little sis, but that one was set on his own path from the start."
He salutes the other members of the party. "That was well done, you fought as a veteran warband. I can see that we will have plenty of work to do here in the coming days."
Introducing himself to Carith as well. "Well met Sir. Brandt Holgarson at your service. Your arrival and magic was well timed."
Eina, who's leaning on Brandt while Courtland congratulates them, manages a weak smile.
"Had you any doubts? They shall sing of our de- *urp!*" Eina's proclamation is interrupted by surge of nausea, swiftly followed by her dinner coming back for a visit. Thankfully, she managed to not stain Lord Courtland's clothing.
"I think I need to lie down," she groans after emptying her stomach.
After being helped to her room, she does as the warsinger suggests and drinks as much as she can, which isn't much with her churning stomach.
"I do not regret his departure, only that I challenged him," she chuckles before laying down. "Can you make sure the others will not leave without me," she asks, "I'd like to have brothers again."
She gives Brandt a sad smile as she lies down. Before he can ask another question, she's fast asleep.
It is late when Eina finally rises. Her raven-black hair is a mess and she looks only a little better than she did last night after talking to Lord Courtland. Her head throbbed in time with the hammering going on outside as work on the wall continued. She shuffles into the common room that she had met the others in last night and curls up on a stool at the bar.
"What do you have to kill the ogre pounding away at the inside of my skull? I almost wish the one that attacked last night had smashed me," she moans as she does her best to lessen the pounding in her head.
Carith smiles grimly as Brandt makes introductions, reaching out to grasp the man's forearm as he was taught. "Carith Blankenship, humble servant of Iomedae." After a firm tug, he releases the other man. "A godless man would say it had more to do with the stubbornness of a young fool not having enough reason to stop and rest. Well met, Brandt. You and your companions fought well this day. I take it you have also accepted Cortland's badge?" The priest chuckles at his self-deprecating comment, his eyes turning serious at his question.
Carith turns to look at Eina as she rids her body of some of the poison she drank not long ago. His demeanor is neutral...although Carith stayed away from such excesses, it was his place to gather worshippers into Her fold, not nag them about drinking. The barbarian woman had saved many lives out there, even if her strange magic was foreign to him.
When the elf made mention of possible bounties at the keep, the men who dragged the bodies away from the wall nodded in agreement. It was sound wisdom to at least try and get paid for them. Moments later three heads - one of which was about 10x heavier than the other two - were tossed unceremoniously into a hemp potato sack and given to the elf. The villagers then wasted no time in stacking logs and kindling over the corpses and setting them ablaze.
It was only a few hours before dawn by the time things settled down again enough for the adventurers and most of the village to retire to their beds. Weary and still anxious about a second assault, sleep didn't come easy for some, but it came. Morning sounds of roosters and stirring workers came at dawn, irrespective of the troubles some hours ago, irreverently awakening those who wanted to sleep until midday. The smell of salt pork bacon wafted upstairs to the private rooms and ran absolutely roughshod over the common room, beckoning everyone to start their day.
Craftsmen went straight to work on the large window broken by the ogre, keeping the inn a high priority because of the expectation of more adventurers and other arrivals on the Baroness' business. This was the jumping off point for those entering the borderlands, and as such it needed a certain amount of attention from the locals and from those under the Lady's employ.
A contingent of just such people arrived an hour after sun up; a small train of wagons driven by common folk, flanked by soldiers on foot and horseback, most of whom wore tabards sporting the colors of the Lady Baroness - a bent black pitchfork upon a field of crimson. They rode through the west gate and wasted little time in spreading out upon the open market area at the center of the village proper, near the inn and other standing structures. Construction of semi-permanent barracks, sheds, and a few stalls began forthwith, allowing for a better infrastructure more ready to provide for soldiers, adventurers, and trade. Some relief was also gained in the knowledge that with these twenty or more soldiers the village would be better guarded today than it was yesterday.
---------------
The adventurers sat at their table, hardly able to get a bite of breakfast for the well-wishers, thanks-givers, and story-seeking villagers who kept stopping by. Those who were saved with healing magic came by the shake hands vigorously, offering as sincere a thanks as could be mustered. Children begged for details about the towering ogre and the battle that brought him down.
A newly-bathed and shaved Cortland floated down the stairs from his private room, twisting the tips of his waxed mustache to a sharp point. In one hand he carried a sturdy reinforced handbag. He used his free hand to wave toward the new recruits -
"Good morning to you all, good morning!" He glided toward the table with a grace befitting a Lord, then lifted and gestured to his bag - "I have brought gifts, rewards rather, as promised."
He pulled for a small key and turned the lock before opening his case. A hinge on the back allowed for it to set evenly while fully open, displaying number of small trinkets and bottles, separated by cross-sectioned partitions.
"Each of you may select one."
---------------
Inventory of his bag:
Carith rose early to the sounds of boards being nailed into place, the bustling activity of the growing settlement pleasing to the priest. Hard work would be needed to tame these wild lands, and it seemed the folks who had come here knew how to labor to make progress against the chaos that always threatened to engulf the world. The priest had always been an early riser, but his feeling of refreshment amazed even him.
He kneeled beside his bed, giving thanks to Iomedae for their victory the previous evening and for generously granting him a restful night's sleep. He then asked for Her blessing in the endeavors ahead, imploring Her to grant favor to him and those others who would journey to the Keep, these men (and women) being Her champions, whether directly or indirectly.
Satisfied that he had given Her the due that was required of him, he headed down to the table, the smell of bacon and other foodstuffs tantalizing to the famished young man. Those that came to speak with him about the previous day's battle were met with a smile, the priest giving all the praise to his fellow badge-wearers and of course to his patron goddess.
Carith was about to ask the other five their plans when a refreshed Cortland entered the room, offering the reward promised the previous evening. Having just finished his fine breakfast, the cleric strode toward the man. "My thanks for this kind reward, Cortland. My duty was clear in the matter, but I shall accept your gift with my Lady's blessing." The pious young man reached forward, grasping the small vial labeled 'Cure Moderate Wounds'.
Although not a fan of carrying a sack full of rotting heads, Pinto had to agree with the logic and could do naught but go along with it.
He ate with his fellow deputies and was pleasantly surprised by Courtland's generosity. He looked about and took one of the shield potions hoping to not have to make use of it but good to have in a pinch.
"Thank you."
Later Pinto played around with some of the younger children, siting a small girl on his shoulder and chasing the boys around making loud 'ogre-like' bellows. With no children to call his own, the old man had a soft spot for the young ones.
After a while, he turned to his fellow travelers, "Are we leaving right now or should we stay a couple of days to make this place safe again?"
-----------
Brandt is in a good mood in the morning, the group looks to be a solid team, ready to face danger and adventure.
Familiar with the morning after Brandt will make sure Eina drinks more water, and eats a solid breakfast. "Best way to get through it." He tells her. "The first time I had a head like yours my Mam made sure to make as much noise with the pots and pans as she could."
Once he's eaten and selected his boon he thanks Cortland and sits outside in the morning sun, watching the craftsmen work and the caravan setting up the market.
If any of the children ask Brandt is happy to share stories, complete with all the voices, gestures and faces.
Eina does and Brandt instructs, though there are a few times she has to fight to keep her breakfast down.
"Many thanks for not doing that with me," she says with a weak chuckle when he tells her of his first hangover, "and thank you for helping to my bed last night. I don't think I could have made it otherwise."
Her mood is markedly improved when Courtland appears. She looks over the gifts she could choose, but a thought strikes her and she turns to the nobleman.
"I hope that I do not give offense for asking this. Would it be possible for me to have a bow and a quiver of arrows instead of one of the items here," she asks.
After everyone has chosen their offered gift, Carith goes up to each party member, offering to shake hands and introducing himself to those he hasn't already had the pleasure of knowing the previous evening.
He then addresses the group, "We are all headed to the Keep, and have all been deputized by Cortland here in the Baroness' name. I propose that we travel together, as there is safety in numbers in these wild lands. While I will not shy away from a fight, my training is in battlefield medicine and support...I believe it is my Lady's wish that I join you."
(Assuming they accept his offer) Carith nods in agreement with Erodin. "Indeed...following the beasts' tracks to their source could allow us to clear out that nest of evil and make these lands safer."
"I hope that I do not give offense for asking this. Would it be possible for me to have a bow and a quiver of arrows instead of one of the items here," she asks.
He raised an eyebrow but shook it away before it got in the way of good manners. "Of course, if this is your wish it will be done."
---------------
After a while, he turned to his fellow travelers, "Are we leaving right now or should we stay a couple of days to make this place safe again?""Best way ta keep this place safe is ta take the fight to 'em! A big ogre's gotta leave some big tracks right?" Erodin takes a look to see if he can track them.
Cortland adds his own two coppers,
"The village is far better manned that it was yesterday with these newest arrivals-" He motioned to some newly-arrived soldiers having a late breakfast, then to others outside working on their barracks. "You've got a three-day march ahead of you. Godspeed to you."
(Assuming they accept his offer) Carith nods in agreement with Erodin. "Indeed...following the beasts' tracks to their source could allow us to clear out that nest of evil and make these lands safer."
Pinto nodded, "You not only have the same right that we do but I also saw that you did not flinch away from battle so you're very welcome to join us on the road."
He looked at Erodin, "If we're going to track down the ogre and its lackeys then I may be of help. Done plenty of tracking with an empty stomach so I hope that the good meal I've had doesn't spoil my eyesight."
As he reaches for the potion, Carith sees the hand of the elf reaching for the same vial. The priest nodded in agreement...he had honestly just been getting the potion in case his healing magic was ever full depleted and they had a need for it. Searching through the case once again, the cleric shrugged before reaching in and grabbing one of the tokens. He had no real use for the item, probably, but he could sell it and better provision himself for the tasks ahead.
Once that was settled, Carith joins Erodin and Pinto, staying in the background as they started to track the beasts. Every group had its individual role-players, and this was their expertise. The priest would only confuse things by offering to help.
Instead, he plods over to the barbarian woman as she gains the bow and quiver of arrows she requested. He looks over her pagan idols for a moment, curious. He had nothing against the other goodly religions of the world, but none of those pieces looked like the symbol of any gods he knew. "My lady, that was great work you did yestereve. You saved many lives with your abilities. Tell me, if I do not offend by asking, what god grants you their energy to channel that healing magic?"
Eina thanks Courtland for the generosity and happily takes a longbow and a quiver of arrows. The tooling on the quiver wasn't like that on the ones her tribe used, and she felt a pang of sorrow for that, but even that was outweighed by the excitement of going on a new adventure.
She's also distracted and doesn't realize that Carith is beside her until he begins speaking. The priest startles her for a moment, but the young raven-haired woman manages to recover fairly quickly.
"I am not offended, so I hope that you will not be when I say that none of your gods grant me power. I have been gifted the power to mend wounds and bolster my fellows in battle by the Spirits," she answers honestly as she shoulders the quiver.
"I need to get Thud, so if you would like, we can continue while we walk to the stables," she adds as she begins to walk for the stables in question.
Thinking that Thud must be the tribeswoman's horse, the priest nods at the young woman, following her to the stables.
"There are those in every religion, I am sure, that call for all heretics or non-believers to convert. For me, I am content to know that your Spirits' granted favors are used for a good purpose. Of course, I will preach my Lady's word to anyone who would listen, in the hopes of swaying their heart. But I don't look down upon those that shun Her, whether in favor of another god or because of a lack of belief in general. My duty is to espouse Iomedae's dogma to the world, and if there were no non-believers I'm afraid I would be out of a job." Carith chuckled, turning his head to glance at the small woman.
"And what brings a woman of the tribes, with the power of these Spirits at her beck and call, out into this wild seeking to tame the land?"
After the duo had returned, and Erodin had distributed the shares of the loot from the previous night, the priest offered a quick prayer of thanks to the Last Ascendant. Telling the others that he would return shortly, the eager young man went out about the multiple stalls that had been set up, looking for a certain piece.
The cleric was beginning to feel disappointment as he searched in vain, until he saw it, the sun causing the item to glint and catch his eye. There, displayed prominently on a cloth after having just been set out, was what he was seeking.
Carith felt rather vain about it, honestly, his wooden holy symbol having served him quite well for years. But with the means available, and the probability of much more gold in the near future, the young man decided to treat himself and his goddess. He quickly paid for the item, picking it up reverently.
The blade was made of polished silver, the edges blunted so the piece could be grasped there. The sunburst around the hilt was made of brass coated in gold, also burnished to a high sheen. It was beautiful. The cleric thanked the stall owner, then headed back to the others, replacing the wooden holy symbol he had been wearing with the newer one just purchased. The old one he stowed into his pack, not quite ready to part with it just yet.
Eina listens respectfully, appearing to have a little difficulty with some words, but able to determine the meaning of some of the cleric's words through their context. She gives Carith a sad smile.
"I am of one tribe. I and my ancestors belonged to the Storm Raven Tribe in the Stormclaw Mountains. If there can be a tribe of one, then I am the last of the Storm Ravens. I came seeking treasure and glory, but also companionship and, maybe, a family, a new family," she answers honestly. The pain is clear in her eyes, but so is the refusal to give in to it. She is a fighter, this one, and woe be to anything trying to stop her.
With a deep breath, Eina cheers up and smiles more like she normally does.
"As for the goddess? Yes, that's the word. As for your goddess, I would not mind learning more. I am a lorekeeper, and it is our job to learn and pass down our knowledge. I did not have much chance to speak with the holy men of your people in my travels. I ran into someone that cursed me for a witch and a heathen in Sweetwaters who did wear the same symbol as you, but worry not. I know not all feel that way about me. Perhaps you would like to learn a little about the Spirits that guide my people and grant us their gifts," she asks, a note of eagerness in her voice.
She turns into the stables and leads Carith to a stall with a large, hairy beast that looks like an ox, but much shaggier and a little stouter. A harness fitted with straps and rings to secure packs and bundles can be seen even with the long hair of the yak. Two bags for storing things hang from the sides and looks to have some items inside, though they can hold much more than they currently do.
"Carith, this is Little Thunderhead," she says, introducing the yak, "Thud, this is Carith. Please try not to squish him like you did that goblin."
Eina beams at Carith as she pats the brute of an animal that is Thud on the head. Thud seems not to even notice anything going on, though he does snort after Eina's introductions.
Whether or not that was a good thing remains to be seen.
Eina approaches the others, leading a large, hairy yak.
"As it seems we shall be traveling together, Thud can carry your packs if you so wish," Eina tells everyone. The yak, on the other hand, looks annoyed. With a snort, he deftly hooks a horn into the back of Eina's belt, causing her to yelp as she's lifted off the ground.
<<THUD! Put me down! Now,>> Eina shouts at the yak, who doesn't obey, and looks rather pleased with himself. The sight of the young lorekeeper hanging awkwardly from the horn of a yak is rather comical, though, especially when the young woman's feet cleared the ground by several inches.
Once his gear is stored correctly Brandt accepts his share of the gold with a smile, he sits down and writes a quick letter to his family. Making arrangements to have it sent back home and using his new gold to pay for it's delivery.
"Shall we be off then?" He asks the others, "From the looks of things there's plenty of work for us."
It appears that Erodin hasn't sold everything yet, though. He still has a morningstar in hand, which he offers Pinto. "You're pretty good with that handaxe last night. A good weapon and somethin' useful for choppin' firewood and the like. But ya never know when you'll want a weapon with a li'l more heft, or somethin' that'll bash in skeletons. Hard ta beat a mornin'star for that, I'd say."
The large man took the morningstar and wrapped both meaty hands over its shaft. "Aye, I think you're right. It gets hard to use two hands on the handaxe sometimes. It feels like I'm grabbing it to close to the head.."
There was a certain apprehension in his voice, "Skeletons uh? Do you think we'll face undead in these lands?"
LATER
Pinto's small pack was easily carried on his back but he welcomed the opportunity to use the yak. he did keep his weapons on himself and even fashioned a small holster for his new morningstar.
He turned to Brandt, "Aye, it seems my fear of lack of work was for naught. I'm ready..."
As for questions about his goddess, "I would be happy to talk to you about my Lady. It is in fact one of the things I was trained for." He offers a zealous smile to the young woman before continuing, "And of course, I would like to know about your Spirits, as well." In actuality, the cleric was very curious...he wondered if they were indeed spirits, or some god operating under a guise.
Carith's eyes widened at the sight of the huge beast, then he chuckled, "A fitting name for your animal. Hopefully his temperament does not match!"
The cleric nodded agreeably to Brandt's question, looking at Eina in concern as she is lifted off the ground by her animal. This looked like it wasn't the first time it had happened, by the nature of the woman's shrieks and the look on her face. Amused, he watched for the conclusion, a small possibility arising that the beast would have to be put down.
"So we appear to be at a crossroads. Shall we head straight on to the Keep, or shall we try to track these four back to their lair, if they kept one?"
"He is as stubborn as a storm, but no, he is more peaceful. Stone would have suited his temper better. I have never had him do anything more than snort at someone that annoyed him. You have nothing to fear from him," she promises Carith.
"If you would like, we could talk while on the road. Thud is not much for conversation," she adds with a chuckle. The yak gives a snort and continues to chew on the hay it'd been given to eat.
"We could do both," Eina says from where she hangs from Thud's horn by her belt, having given up on getting the beast to let her down. "Do the tracks and the road to the keep go the same way?"
Clouds of varying shades of gray hovered overhead, threatening poor weather but had thus far done little more than keep the temperature below the late summer norm. With their bags packed, armor fastened, and weapons at their side the newly-formed group of adventurers waved goodbye to the village of Sowell's Orchard. A group of half a dozen boys and girls ushered them out the east gate, decked out in their own sets of faux arms and armor made of wood and straw, swinging their blunted play swords against the real armor of the travelers. One of the girls - the tallest of the group - offered her advice,
"Don't die! Come back in a few years and teach us how to fight ogres!"
They set off eastward, tracking the course taken by the raiders the night before. Luckily the ogre was so large that many of his tracks could have been followed by a child. The raiders' trail weaved in and out of the tree cover just north of the old thruway, unerringly keeping the road within sight. This worked out in the end since the road was the most direct way to the keep, and so this first leg of the journey allowed for the enemy's route to be revealed while maintaining a straight eastward trajectory.
After nearly a day's march the landscape began a rather stark change from forested gentle flats to rocky steep hills with sparse foliage. At about this point the ogre's and beastmen's trail aligned with the road, becoming less apparent as the footfalls hit stone instead of softened ground. The old thruway cut a viable path through the rough countryside that took hours off of what would have been a vigorous hike.
At about the time everyone's feet grew weary enough to call for a stop, a previously-used campsite was spotted alongside the road. Inspection revealed its fire was out but heat still radiated from the remnants. Some of the coals still burned hot underneath the pile of gray ash. Several footprints covered the vicinity, more apparent than expected due to the hard ground, likely a result of a previous rain softening the dirt.
Flashes of distant lightning and their accompanying thunderclaps grew less distant as the day waned into evening, promising to make good on those threats made by the clouds earlier this morning.
After looking around the campsite you determine that this was likely used by the raiders sometime before their attack. It was also used more recently, indicated by pawed foot prints (bipedal, likely from the rabbitman who escaped?) that lead eastward, deeper into the rocky hills.
After a few minutes, Eina finally gives in and undoes her belt to get back down on the ground. She rubs her belly where the belt had cut into as Thud gives an amused snort. The lorekeeper just shakes her head as she puts her belt back on and adjust her clothes.
She couldn't bring herself to give the yak the glare he so richly deserved, however. There was an adventure to be had and she was much too excited.
===
"Taecuss has the right of it," Eina says as she gathers her sling, her bow, and the ammunition for both from where it is strapped to Little Thunderhead's pack harness. "Shall we?"