Ritti poorly pretends to look shocked at Torra’s assertion and clutches at a non-existent set of pearls. ”Wha? People don’t like me? But I’m so soft and welcoming with just a hint of treachery, stabby-ness, and neck-breaky-ness.” She smiles broadly at the dwarf. It seems their life experiences had some similarities.
Yuto gives Ritti a lopsided grin "S-soft and welcoming? Ritti San, you are the only person here who can make 'stabby-ness' sound like a compliment. But speaking of things to worry about, I-I think the real crisis here is the food. If this cold keeps up, we are going to run out of warm meals! I-I mean, how are we supposed to fend off an undead horde on frozen rations? Zombi stew? Even ghosts might pity us!" he chuckles nervously, rubbing his hands together for warmth "Let's do something to fix that disaster!"
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Yuto gives Ritti a lopsided grin "S-soft and welcoming? Ritti San, you are the only person here who can make 'stabby-ness' sound like a compliment.”
”I wouldn’t call it a compliment exactly,” Ritti responds with a smile, ”more of a useful skill… when we’re on the hilt-end of it. The next time some undead horror doesn’t attack us cuz of a well-reasoned chin-wag, I’m happy to put my blade away. Until then, stabby-ness is a virtue.”
”I-I think the real crisis here is the food. If this cold keeps up, we are going to run out of warm meals! I-I mean, how are we supposed to fend off an undead horde on frozen rations? Zombi stew? Even ghosts might pity us!" he chuckles nervously, rubbing his hands together for warmth "Let's do something to fix that disaster!"
The thief becomes sober. ”Yeah… The caravan master said we’re coming to a village soon enough. With luck, we can pick up some supplies there. After that, I’m pretty useless as a forager… and if we stop to hunt, well, how much game would we have to bag to offset the food losses from the delay? It’s a thorny problem.”
Yuto nods earnestly, the humor fading from his voice "You are right, Ritti San, and I am no hunter either. But a warm meal could do wonders for all of us, if that village has anything to spare, I will gladly help barter or work for it. Stabby-ness might be a virtue, but if we are fighting on empty stomachs, even virtues can fail us" he rubs his hands together again, glancing toward the snowy horizon "Let's hope that village has enough for the living, and does not leave us needing your blade for dinner negotiations..."
Atsuko is delighted to learn the drivers are from so many different, distant places. She will have to follow up with them about it later and individually. While she has them all in one place, what she wants to know is why they came on this journey.
"I would think this is the coldest possible journey a caravan could make. Also it must be among the most dangerous. But, while I'm not certain since I didn't know of all the people in the caravan at the time, it seems that not a single person chose to leave the caravan and stay behind."
"Why did all of you decide to stay and continue on this journey instead of finding a different, easier job?"
"Why? You are as dwarf as any of them."
The aforementioned dwarf sighs deeply. "Only on the outside. I never had any interest in the typical dwarf past-times, and to be honest I don't really... feel dwarfish." Torra swallows and looks to the side, avoiding Lone-Pillar's gaze. "But if I'm too... if you don't want- if it bothers you that I'm around you, I- I'll ask Shalelu to go scout with her instead."
"I doubt we'll be headed to the pole." Ragnhildr says wryly. "The Path doesn't go that far, far as I can remember." She looks to Atsuko. "Honestly, I'm not sure. Sandru's been good to me, but not good enough that I'd want to come this far north just 'cause of that. No, I think I just... I'd like to see where we end up. This is a grand venture. Once in a lifetime, you know?"
Aspexia simply shrugs silently. "Anywhere's better than here. If we keep moving, we keep ourselves alive."
The other two drivers give her odd looks, but the gnome looks back to Atsuko. "From your name, I'm guessing you're heading to an ancestral homeland? One of your ancestors came from Tian Xia, right?"
"Yes, my father was Tian-Min. He died when I wasn't much more than a baby. My mother remarried a few years later, an Ulfen man. I guess I've always been curious. I heard stories from Minkai when I was young and lived there, and when I was older I would go back and collect more of them from people there. But, in my head, the stories have western settings, the scenery, sights, and smells. It's all I know. I want to see Minkai firsthand."
Since Ragnhildr brought him up, Atsuko pounces on the opportunity.
"How good IS Sandru? He's kind of hard to get to know."
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Haungalon nods. "Of course. Seeking your roots isn't a bad thing at all. Why, I was tempted to visit the First World, back in the day. My family, ah, dissuaded me. Probably for the best, really." He chuckles. "It's quite dangerous out there, and I'm not nearly as skilled in battle as you seem to be."
"Aye, but is the Crown of the World more dangerous than the First World?" Ragnhildr asks, glancing at the gnome, who shrugs. The Ulfen woman looks back at Atsuko. "You think he's hard to get to know?" She asks, surprised, then thinks for a few moments. "I suppose he's been under a lot of pressure lately, so that's probably why. He's usually pretty open and friendly with his employees."
"He's good enough." Aspexia says, shivering in the cold. "But this is probably the most difficult journey he's ever faced. It's no Varisia, or even Nirmithas or Molthune. Might even be worse than Nidal."
"Well, any troll's arm comes off." Ragnhildr says, an Ulfen saying indicating persistence. "We'll survive so long as we keep moving."
The caravan continues on its journey, trundling along hilly paths and occasionally being forced to go overland, where no paths are. Ulf and Sandru, along with the drivers, manage to keep things largely together, and there's no other damage done to the carts in the next few days.
On the morning of the 14th, Sandru gathers everyone to make an announcement to the caravan. "We should be - and Ulf is almost certain - almost to the shores of the lake." The guide nods. Sandru pulls out the map the heroes discovered in the lair of the winter wolf. "The lake's called Nallishoot, and there's an Erutaki settlement called Rimakak there. Ulf?"
The guide coughs, nodding. "It's been quite awhile since I was there last, but the people should - hopefully - be willing to trade with us. If only for a few supplies."
"That being said - if we don't get very many supplies, we'll have to deal with it on our own." Sandru says, gazing sternly around the caravan. "I'm not going to try to pry food from the mouths of the locals. That means no pressuring them, alright? I'll handle it, and you all take a bit of a break. It'll be relatively safe for the first time in awhile, so take the chance to relax and get to know the locals."
"Some of 'em should speak Skald or maybe TIen." Ulf offers. "But not many. Don't get your hopes up about finding someone to play riddles with, is all I'm saying." There's a nervous chuckle around the caravan.
However, before they can continue, there's a shout from outside in several languages.
One of the sentries - Lone-Pillar - arrives within a heartbeat of the words' fading. "A human hunter or trapper." He says by way of brief explanation. "Got absurdly close before we saw him, and apparently doesn't want to surprise us."
Torra's eyes narrow at the unexpected intrusion - and at Lone-Pillar's admission that they had been nearly surprised. "What is he saying?" the dwarf asks, looking at Yuto, Sandru and Ulf.
I really should start learning the languages they speak around here...
Yuto nods seriously at Sandru's words "Then we must be cautious. We cannot risk drawing attention to Ameiko Sana's identity. We are travelers, merchants, nothing more. No titles, no names that would make anyone look twice" his gaze sweeps over the caravan, hoping the others understand the weight of his words.
The sudden call from outside interrupts the conversation and Yuto turns sharply. He slips through the gathered caravan members, looking to meet the hunter.
He raises a gloved hand in greeting "Hail, friend. You move like a shadow in this land. Few would have noticed you coming" he tilts his head, studying the stranger "I-I am Yuto. And you? Do you seek aid, or is it we who should be asking you for help?"
Atsuko mentions that she speaks Minkian and is willing to help with securing supplies in the village. Then she demonstrates by translating for Torra.
"The calls were in Skald and Tien, and they're both the same: 'Hail travelers.'"
Sandru, Ulf, Shalelu, and Ameiko all join Yuto as he goes to meet the man, and all of them find that a fair few other guards have come to meet him as well. He's a middle-aged man, almost certainly Erutaki, wearing heavy furs against the cold of the arctic environs.
The man takes a few moments, examining Yuto and then the others that come with him then shifts to thickly accented Taldane. "You going north at this time of year? Late." He shakes his head. "Foolish. I am Inuliak. I trade what I trap out here."
"And do you have wares for sale?" Sandru responds in the same language, looking curious.
Inuliak looks at Sandru for a few moments. "Perhaps. Not much. Not much around here now."
At the man's words, Yuto offers a respectful nod, letting Sandru handle the negotiations for trade "Welcome Inuliak. A-a harsh season for both travelers and hunters alike. I-if we are foolish, then I ho-hope we are at least the kind that survives our mistakes" he glances toward the distant snow-covered horizon.
"Rimakak is close, yes? W-we do not wish to be a burden on its people. If you know the village well, i-is there anything we should know before we arrive? Any customs we sho-should follow, or troubles that need mending?" he observes the man for reactions.
Inuliak turns to Yuto. "Rimakak? Oh, aye. You'll get there by nightfall." He rubs his gloved hands together. "Not familiar, no. Been there a time or two, though."
He looks frustrated and switches to Skald.
Ulf looks surprised at the hunter's words.
Inuliak shrugs slightly. "I hunt for me and a little barter. You hunt for many."
Yuto raises an eyebrow but finally nods thoughtfully "Perhaps you could travel with us, Inuliak" he offers, glancing at Sandru for approval "You know these lands far better than we do. We come from the south, where the ways of hunting are different. If you could teach us how to survive here, we would be grateful, and we would compensate you fairly for your knowledge"
He keeps his tone respectful but inviting, watching the hunter's reaction closely.
Sandru casts a slightly disapproving look at Yuto, but doesn't intervene until after the hunter has had a chance to reply. "Maybe." The Erutaki grunts. "But why?"
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"For safety? There is something, or someone, in these parts that raises dead things. We fought a herd of undead bison not too long ago, and a few days back we came upon the remains of another caravan. We think they were attacked." Torra has been examining Inuliak curiously, noting his dress and equipment, if any.
"Undead?" Inuliak looks at Torra curiously. "Ah, yes. Them." The hunter-trader scratches his chin.
"You've met them too?" Ameiko asks, sounding surprised. "How did you survive on your own?"
Inuliak shrugs. "I move fast, and defend myself."
"If you're willing to wait, I need to discuss with the rest of the caravan, but I think we may be able to make room for you... at least until we get to the village." Sandru says, a half-smile on his face.
The Erutaki looks slightly confused before Ulf translates it into Skald for him. He runs a hand through his dark hair, then shrugs. "Maybe. You talk, then I will decide."
Sandru nods, and gestures for the leaders of the caravan - including the heroes - to gather around. "I agree he's in danger out here." He begins. "And I'm definitely willing to go with him at least to Rimakak. Beyond that... well, I'd want to discuss both with him and with you all."
Amaya speaks slowly. "Another problem is whether he is aligned with the necromancer... or the Five Storms." Ameiko looks grave at the notion, but doesn't dispute it.
Yuto's demeanor turns while less self-assured under Sandru's gaze "Su-suspicion is wise, but too much ca-caution can cost us an ally. I-if Inuliak is truthful, he could be of great help to us. If he is l-lying, traveling to-together may reveal his true intentions before he can act against us"
His gaze sweeps over the group "And if we le-leave him behind, we risk pushing him toward our enemies, i-if he is not already with them. W-we should keep our wits about us, but I see more to gain than to lose by bringing him along"
Ulf shakes his head at Yuto's words. "I just don't see any reason for us to invite him any further than Rimakak. He's another mouth to feed, and what he brings in won't really bring more than what he eats. I also don't see why he'd want to come with us, especially in the long term - why would he want to join us on our way to Tian Xia? Hell, why would he want to leave the Hills? We don't know where he lives."
"I understand your concern, Yuto. But he's only somewhat interested in joining us anyways." Sandru says. "If he'd asked, I'd definitely want to weigh the options carefully, but inviting him in when he hasn't shown much interest seems unnecessary."
"The lack of interest does seem to indicate that it is unlikely he is looking specifically for us, though." Amaya observes. "But I agree that inviting him not only makes little sense, but makes us seem more suspicious."
Ameiko looks at Yuto. "Why do you want him to come with us, Yuto?" She asks, sounding curious.
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Yuto blinks, caught off guard by the resistance. His confidence crumbles under their scrutiny, and he stammers, his words tripping over each other "I-I d-didn't mean, uh, I wasn't thinking about T-Tian Xia, just-he was h-here, and I thought, maybe he needed h-help? Or, or maybe he c-could help us? I-I just-" he stops, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly flustered.
His eyes dart between Sandru, Ulf, and Ameiko, struggling to collect his thoughts "I... I d-don't know! He came to us, and I thought w-we could l-learn more about him, see if he knows about the undead, if he's connected somehow... or if h-he's just a hunter, l-living in a cursed land. Leaving him behind h-has no s-sense when w-we could enjoy a lo-local guide"
He exhales sharply, shaking his head "I, I d-didn't mean to make it s-seem like, like I w-wanted to adopt him or s-something!"
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"He seems older than you, Yuto, so it would be the other way around. He would have to adopt you." Torra seems entirely serious, and looks about to say some more, but stops.
Is Yuto actually searching for a father? It must be hard, growing up without one. AND then meeting his animated skeleton and restless spirit...
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Yuto opens his mouth to protest, but the words never come. Torra's remark hits something deep, something he hadn't even considered himself. Adopt him? That’s ridiculous. Absurd. But... why does the thought make his chest feel tight?
His lips press together, and his gaze lowers, suddenly unsure where to rest his eyes. His mind races, was that what he was doing? Was there something in Inuliak, some quiet presence, some strength, that he had been drawn to without realizing? Was he... searching?
His throat tightens, and for once, he has no stammer, no words at all. His hand drifts toward his sword hilt, not gripping, just resting there, grounding himself. After a long pause, he swallows and mutters, almost too low to hear, "That was... not what I meant"
And yet, doubt lingers in his eyes as he answers the caravan leaders "Understood. Sorry for having proposed such a thing without discussion"
Ameiko smiles, laying a hand on Yuto's shoulder. "Your compassion's a good thing, Yuto. Don't apologize for it. It wasn't exactly the wisest offer, but don't apologize for being worried about others."
Sandru nods. "Next time, I'd appreciate you asking before giving out that kind of offer, but it's a good thing that you're worried about him." He looks at the others. "But, as I said, I think we can absolutely keep him around while we head to the village."
"He's probably on his way there already." Ulf comments. "Or on his way back, I guess."
"He has not said anything about how Rimakak is doing." Amaya observes. "If he were coming from there, it seems like he might want to say something about its current status. Unless, of course, he believes we are hostile." She turns a neutral gaze towards Yuto. "It seems unlikely that he does, but he might."
"We should ask him about the undead." Shalelu says, her monochromatic eyes narrowing. "He knows more than he's saying, I think." After a moment, she sighs. "Assuming, of course, I can read him through two languages I don't understand."
Atsuko listens through the conversations, but doesn't add anything herself for a while. She's inclined to agree with Sandru and Ulf on several points, little reason for the hunter to want to leave the area, danger that he might be a spy, and marginal added value for the caravan most prominent. Taking him along to Rimakak might make sense though because it would make it harder for him to contact others if he is a spy.
She's also a little skeptical of him exactly because he is so hard to read. Atsuko is fairly good at figuring people out, and beyond a certain point bluffing or lying well takes concerted practice. Inuliak seems practiced enough to hide his thoughts and motives very well, but not practiced enough to disguise his hiding of his thoughts and motives. He's gambler good, not diplomat good.
It's not proof, and not much of a hunch to hang things on either. Atsuko decides not to bother explaining. When they're away to speak privately, she simply adds "As far as Rimakak is alright I guess. But farther, I don't think so. Something about him bothers me."
Yuto exhales, slowly nodding at the leader's words "Agreed, if he knows about the undead, we need to hear it from him. Even if he is hiding something, we should at least try"
He glances at Atsuko, acknowledging her concerns "O-ok, o-only way is to try know a bit more about him"
"Can I entrust you four with discussing things with him?" Ameiko asks. "I want to learn myself, but I think he's marked me as an authority figure, and I don't actually want to make him feel like he's being interrogated. Especially if he's exactly what he seems to be."
"You do not think he is, do you?" Amaya asks softly. Her older sister shakes her head.
"No, I don't. But that doesn't mean I'm right about that. We shouldn't treat him like he's an enemy by default. Just be cautious, and don't make him feel threatened."
Thus decided, the leaders of the caravan and the heroes return to meet with Inuliak. "We've discussed in more detail, and I think we've come to an agreement." Sandru says. "Would you like to join us at least as far as Rimakak?"
The Erutaki man considers for a few moments. "'s been some time since I was there." He says, then nods. "Good. Let's go, then.".
The journey gives the four heroes the chance to meet and speak with the hunter, who seems somewhat surprised that they want to communicate with him.
Yuto hesitates. The weight of the leaders' decision presses on him, and he finds himself suddenly uncertain of his place in the discussion. They had made their stance clear, he was not to make decisions on behalf of the caravan.
He swallows, his hand instinctively drifting toward the hilt of his blade, a steadying presence "I..." He stops himself, glancing between the others, between Sandru, Ameiko, even Amaya.
As the group moves to talk with Erutaki, he takes a position on a secondary row and focuses himself on paying attention to the environs, making sure no one is to attack the caravan, ready to defend his liege if needed.
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Ritti doesn’t have any words for the caravan’s guest immediately. Like Ameiko, Atsuko, and some others… she doesn’t like the feel of the man. She’d heard that rangers – in their element – were surprisingly stealthy. But this fellow didn’t seem a ranger. So, how’d he manage to sneak up on all their scouts? The obvious choice is his skillset is similar to Ritti’s or a ninja’s. That was concerning. And then there was the feeling of dishonesty and the lies… How could a local trapper have only visited Rimakak a couple of times? It wasn’t like there were a lot of places to trade out here. Even looking Erutaki meant nothing. Ritti had met a few people who could make you think they were your own sister.
Maybe he was some odd hermit out here, but the better bet was he was in league with the necromancer… and that bet was weak compared to the very strong possibility he was an assassin, here for Ameiko. Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
If they were using ‘Riddleport Rules’, they’d jump Inuliak in a group and stab him ‘til he stopped breathing. But this wasn’t Riddleport. Utter vigilance and paranoia were the way to go. So, yeah, Ritti doesn’t have any words for the caravan’s guest immediately… but she watches him constantly, looking for ‘tells’ in his behavior, how he moves, and what he watches.
When she can get a moment with Yuto alone, she conveys her concerns. She’s paranoid enough that she doesn’t use Ameiko’s name. ”I’m betting that fella is an assassin. We all need to keep one eye on your girl and three eyes on him. She goes nowhere alone, ever. Best if there are two people with her at all times. And they don’t leave her side, no matter what. If he’s gonna make a move, it’ll likely be in town. Tell your girl.”
When Ritti finally catches Yuto alone, her words settle in the Tian's gut like a stone "A-an assassin?!"
His jaw tightens "Understood" he murmurs, his gaze flicking toward the others before settling back on Ritti "She won't be alone. I'll make sure of it"
He is not sure how Ameiko will take this "Not sure she will listen. But if there's even a chance Ritti San is right... Can you keep your two eyes on him?"
With that he moves to join with Ameiko and tries to find a way to talk with her "A-ameiko Sama. Excuse me, but I will need to stand by you for a few days" he looks down but goes direct to the topic "Ritti San thinks the man might be an assassin. We cannot take any risk going forward"
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Ameiko looks at Yuto gravely when he approaches her with Ritti's concerns. "I understand why you'd be worried. It's obviously possible that our enemies have people out here hunting us. Now, I don't think it's likely that Inuliak is one of them, but you're not wrong that it's a possibility."
"She is right." Suishen murmurs. "Keep an eye on him, but don't make an enemy where none was before." The sword's tone isn't quite scolding, but it's close.
"He doesn't have an evil aura." Helgarval observes.
"Which means he's not an oni." Ameiko nods, lowering her voice to match the angel's. "Or he's using magic to hide the aura." She spreads her hands, resuming her normal speech. "I'll let the guards know to keep a close eye on him, but remember we're almost to Rimakak - he won't stay with us very long. Of course, there are other risks there, but nothing's without risk. Why don't you go talk with him, see if you can learn more about the area and keep an eye on him at the same time?"
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Atsuko is at a loss for how to approach Inuliak. She doesn't feel confident she would be able to get any information out of him, or be able to tell the difference between true and false if she did. Atsuko also doubts she could shadow him, or do anything else of the sort without him noticing.
Eventually she decides that perhaps she can see if she can elicit some emotional response from him that might reveal something among his nature or character.
She looks for an opportunity to talk with him when starting a conversation would seem natural, perhaps at mealtime or around the fire in the evening. When she engages him, Atsuko approaches the conversation as her describing what the members of her caravan have seen and experienced in recent days, expressing worry and fearfulness (which is no stretch for her really), and asking him a couple of simple questions and opinions from him based on his great local experience.
She tells him of the mutilated undead herds they have seen and had to ward off, the caravan vacant of people but full of slaughtered draft animals.
"There are rumors of a terrible necromancer who roams the area from the mountains to all around the lake and beyond. The rumors say this necromancer is responsible for all this. Have you heard the same? Do you think the necromancer exists?"
Atsuko pauses to reflect, then she adds "We have all thought about it and debated among ourselves, but we can find no logic in what we've seen. Why slaughter animals to just let them roam as the walking dead? How could so many people be taken without a trace of violence against them, but at the very same spot all their animals savagely ravaged?"
"Do you think a person, even a powerful necromancer would act in this way? Why would such a powerful mage inhabit almost empty lands? What else could it possibly be? How long has this been happening? Do you remember a time before these awful things started happening?"
If Inuliak bothers to answer, Atsuko watches and listens for any signs of anger, or shock, or compassion from him. She thinks he will always be careful with the. information he divulges, but perhaps in doing so he might forget to guard his feelings.
"Understood, Ameiko Sama" he says with a slight bow, also appreciating Suishen and Helgarval.
Yuto hesitates about how to approach the man. He is no diplomat, no interrogator. He is a protector, a warrior. Yet, he will do what his liege requests of him.
That evening, he takes a seat near Inuliak at the fire. Atsuko is already speaking with the hunter, weaving words carefully, testing his reactions. Yuto lets her continue, she has the gift of speech that he lacks. Instead, he listens for a while, studying the man's expressions.
When there is a natural pause, he speaks "Y-you know this land well, Inuliak San. We-e are travelers, and every road we take has its dangers. Beyond these... unnatural horrors, wh-what should we expect in Rimakak?"
He glances toward the hunter "Supplies will run low before long. Is there a place in town wh-where we can trade, where a caravan like ours will not be cheated? A-and the people... is there anyone we should be wary of? We-e are strangers here, and strangers are not always welcomed with open arms"
After listening to his answers he, then adds a more careful question "A-and the town itself, who leads it? Are they just, or do they rule by fear?"
Inuliak listens with a carefully neutral expression to Atsuko's story about the undead, before responding in kind.
He tucks his hands into his heavy furs, considering Atsuko's questions as Yuto arrives.
He continues in Skald, tracing a line with three lines coming off of it in the air.
He shrugs slightly.
Inuliak glances at Yuto, pulling out a hand to rub his chin. "Fisherfolk." He says in Taldane. "Been some time since I was there. Nice enough folk... a few dozen families, I think." He pauses, frowning in concentration. "Elders guide. Not big enough for a real 'ruler.'" The hunter shrugs. "Probably safe enough... but it's winter soon. Might not be welcome for long."
Yuto listens carefully to Inuliak's responses, nodding slightly as the hunter describes Rimakak. His thoughts turn to the strange symbol the hunter mentions. He glances at Atsuko, trusting that she will recall the symbol and perhaps recognize its meaning later.
"Th-thank you, Inuliak San" Yuto says simply in Taldane, bowing his head slightly "Disse d-døde skapningene... har du sett at de er flere i et bestemt a-område?"
"These d-dead creatures... have you observed them being more nu-numerous in a-any particular a-area?"
Torra doesn't speak Skald, but the dwarf watches Inuliak carefully, noting the lingering glance at Yuto's katana. It's probably that he's never seen such a weapon before, and Torra herself is momentarily distracted into looking at the weapons hilt carefully - and completely missing whatever anyone says or does next.
"Fisherfolk? We might be able to buy some smoked fish then. Would make for a nice change after all the berries, mushrooms and venison."
Atsuko comes away from the conversation frustrated and still not knowing what to think about him.
The Erutaki man shakes his head.
He switches back to Taldane to reply to Torra. "Maybe. Fish are common there. They might want to trade to you some." Inuliak hesitates. "How have you eaten? Big caravan for these hills."
Yuto nods slightly at Inuliak's response, his brow furrowing. The undead aren't concentrated in one place but seem to be increasing in number. Troubling news.
When Inuliak switches back to Taldane, asking about their food, Yuto hesitates, glancing at the others before responding "Our caravan has hunters, and we gather what the land provides. We will trade if the fisherfolk are willing"
Ready to move on, Yuto takes his katana and makes sure to help escort the caravan to the town.
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The caravan sets out over the wooded hills, the bitter cold fighting them every step of the way, but as dusk falls and night begins to overtake the sky, the pack animals grow restive. "They smell water." Varrick says.
"Then we're almost there." Sandru manages a satisfied smile. "Ulf, Inuliak, do you recognize where we are?"
The Ulfen man looks around, brows furrowed, but nods. "I think so. It's hard to tell. When I'm this far north, I rarely move at night." He glances at Inuliak, who also nods.
"Then lets keep going." Sandru says, and the two men lead the caravan onwards. Within a few minutes, the party hears the roar of a waterfall in the distance, and the trees open up on a small village that sits on the edge of a lake. Its buildings are humble, lodges and huts built of wood, but look cozy enough.
Atsuko is tired, sleepy enough to have to fight to stay awake sitting up. But, she does have the presence of mind to notice that something seems strange with the village.
She mentions it to .
"Shouldn't there be fires or smoke? I don't see any smoke from any of the houses, and there are no lights of any kind at all. That doesn't seem right does it?"
Yuto narrows his eyes as they approach the village "A-atsuko San i-is correct! No smoke, no lights! Tha-that is not the sight of a village merely asleep for the night..."
The Tien grips Suishen's hilt as his gaze sweeps the settlement "A-a trap? Or worse... already abandoned..."
"I-I think a group of us s-should advance themselves and f-find out what is going on before w-we make the carts into there and f-fall into some no retreat bottleneck" Yuto looks behind for his companions and then turns to Sandru "B-brother, let me take Atsuko, Torra and Ritti. W-we will go there and quickly check what has happened"
Ritti sheds her winter jacket opting for better maneuverability and a shade more stealth. ”There are other possibilities. The townsfolk are hiding, dead, or undead which leads back to your trap notion, Yuto. Whatever the case, I’m up for a walk-around. The caravan should also be ready to defend itself.”
Sandru hesitates, his brow furrowing. "Good eyes, Atsuko." He says, offering her an appreciative smile, though it quickly fades and he looks at the rest of the caravan's present leadership - Ameiko, Shalelu, Ulf, and Lone-Pillar.
Shalelu inhales deeply. "No smell of smoke at all." She says slowly. "Unless they have a magical means of heating all of their houses..."
Ameiko shakes her head. "Then they're probably either gone or dead."
Ulf clears his throat. "Last time I was here, they didn't have any magic that I saw. Doesn't mean there wasn't any, just..." He scratches his chin. "I don't know. I think that you're probably right, though. They're dead, gone, or worse, undead."
"Lone-Pillar, rally the guards." Sandru says quickly. "Shalelu, can you get either Riftun or Zaiobe and have her fly overhead? Ameiko, grab Koya, Spivey, and Inuliak if you can. You four," he looks at the party, then nods, "go. But be careful. Zaiobe will keep an eye on you from the sky, but that's no reason to take reckless risks."
The other caravaners rush off to their assigned tasks as Sandru takes a few moments to head into the midst of the troupe and begins explaining what's going on.
Ritti has some concerns about leaving Inuliak anywhere near Ameiko but there is nothing she can do about it, at the moment. Recalling the numbing experience of punching one of the bison, she draws her butterfly sword and reverses it. The blade runs backwards along her forearm – concealed but ready to strike, like a viper’s fang. She slinks off toward the village in the comforting gloom of night, picking her way cautiously beside the path into the village.
Torra narrows their eyes at the too-quiet village. "Why would they be hiding? They don't know we're coming. Unless they're hiding from something else..." The villagers laying low is a more comforting image than an entire village being dead - or worse. The dwarf clings to that shred of hope as they tip-toe forward behind Ritti, ready to cover their companion with a blast of frozen rocks should anything try to harm her.