~ PASSAGE 68 ~
MARKINGS & THE MISSING

Teflar drank heartily and was already on his third ale when reflecting on the mage's relation.
" Long pointy claws could be a bear, a large cat, or even something stranger. Sounds like we have something to look into tomorrow, in the bright light of day."

Aramil flinched " In the bright light...you think we have something more sinister than the average animal?"

Teflar shivered " A dire or werecreature is not out of the question at this point. We should examine those markings."

Oktavianus snorted " Nevermind dead cows, the bartender was concerned with a group of missing adventurers. When I mentioned the orcs we encountered, he dropped a glass in his hand. It seems that Pinedroi has had its' share of bad luck. Perhaps we can gather an army of some sort?" The dwarf waited for a reaction while wiping away sparkling ale running down his red beard.

Torynth balked " An army? I doubt we can form anything at this point without any proof. Where were these missing adventurers last seen cleric?"

The cleric shrugged " Never asked, friend."

Leah sighed " Well, I wouldn't doubt they were up north where we were. With the fate of the Airrdale scouts and the marauding owlbears, it is easy to come up missing these days."

Erelis finished his second beer while Gailwind read a pamphlet he had grabbed off a nearby bench. The lorist spoke up " It says here these adventurers were traveling west to the Mirthy Gorge; last seen two weeks ago."

" Mirthy Gorge?" reflected the ranger " Sounds as nice as the swamp we passed through. Does the pamphlet say who hired them or what they were after?"

Gailwind shook his head and read aloud the bulletin in whole. He then passed the paper around for all to see.

 

ş MISSING! ş

Four locals from our beloved city have not returned from a contracted expedition to the Mirthy Gorge. Geltan and Rachall Cherlen, Sir Orest Ford, and Krenad Shatters had left Pinedroi on the morning of Frendel 20. They were due to return Mycran 1. Reports find that they made it through to Glass Lake on Frendel 24, but were not seen since. An estimated 500 GP is offered in reward for the return of the party or at least information thereof.
Details can be gained from Wyndetta Cherlen at her Hucrest estate.
Dated: Mycran 5

Erelis mused " A few days old, but perhaps just as worthy if we up the reward." The psionist monitored the team " Shall we consider this?" 

Aramil huffed " Okay, let me interject one item of notice.  We are supposed to be finding an item of substantial importance. We have agreed before that orcs were not capable of taking the shard, but something more vile or evil and more clever. We are wasting valuable time in our hunt.  We sit here trying to kill a very large number of orcs {looking to the cleric}, which if we fail, would be meaningless. He looked to everyone in turn " Find me a reason for why these missing adventurers are important to our primary goal!"