" I bring news of ill tiding. Our magistrate has been killed." Erelis, with obvious distress, untied the satchel. He looked at the faces surrounding him.
" I collected a few goods for you to take, but as far as any extra men, there is none to spare for the expedition." A few of the fellowship revealed surprise and frustration, but were otherwise resigned to the fact that they should expect nothing from anybody; the weight of the land lay on their shoulders alone.

Erelis spoke to Torynth " I scavenged ten canisters of blast oil and three cords of 50' silk rope from a few stores. I managed to find trip wire {100'} in case we wanted to cover our tracks."
With great interest, the dwarf watched the equipment unfold from Erelis' bag.
" It has come as I had thought; we are left to defend ourselves, and the region, against the horde. I hope we have the manpower to complete a task of this magnitude."

The monk responded " I hope that the blast oil can take out the majority of the orcs before we have to go hand-to-hand. Maybe we can find some clay-sealable containers and some rags to make projectiles from the blast oil. Cunning will be the only thing that saves us in this venture." Torynth looked away reaffirming his mind " Courage, young monk. You didn't want to live forever now did you?"

Erelis shook his head " These are what you had asked for at the fieldhouse and, since that time, all that I found. If you want to delay the venture and search the ravaged village for yourselves and gather more supplies, go ahead, but don't be mistaken for looters. There are some furious citizens still about and hungry for dead orcs." Erelis knew the questions immediately reflected in the groups' faces
" No, these aren't trained warriors willing to follow us. They are mere farmers bent on appeasing their minds at the loss of their livelihood."

The wizard stood transfixed on a notion " We shall move out right now. No more time can be given other than a full effort to thwart these scoundrels. Already they have the run of the land and I feel we shall strike where they don't expect us. I have a few tricks up my sleeve that rivals the grappling brambles of our dear druidess." Aramil walked to the iron-bound door.
" Let us at least see where these beasts collect. We don't have to fight necessarily. We wouldn't survive if we did."

The fellowship was in agreement about an immediate start and, after gathering a stock of food Salimen had rooted out of a nearby cabinet, the team collected outside of the lodge. Erelis led them back to the western entrance where they followed the original carttrail back through the rolling fields onto the main road. A few farmers gave little regard as they strode on by. Most had sifted through the remains of their incinerated buildings and hurried back to the village before nightfall. Dusk was close at hand when the team finally found the orc trail that plodded recklessly west.

Teflar took a few moments to remind everyone about owlbears in the area and to keep quiet through the entire venture. With that, the gang started their quest of the starpoint once again.

9 PM: 'Raven' followed a well-worn, mud-ripped trail that spanned at least 40' across and smashed straight ahead into the Nalmiar Forest. The group slogged through ankle mud for most of their first few hours until the trees casually closed on them about five miles inside.

Gailwind pleaded for a rest as his face was already worn with exertion.
" I need to stop for a few seconds to catch my breath." He sat hard onto a mud mound and wiped his sweaty brow as the others took a few moments to tend to their own momentary needs.
Erelis pulled a snack out from his bag " A think we are close, perhaps..."
SNAP!
Something broke south of the trail! The team swiveled their heads alarmed at this sudden disturbance!