Shortly after everything was assembled, Sheriff Menet escorted them out to the wagons and they left town heading northwest. Almost immediately, the Ranger was able to pick up some old tracks heading out of town in this direction. She was able to read the tracks because nobody else had really traveled out of the area, and not in the direction of the desert. With a good idea of where to go, they rationed out the water and proceeded to make their way.
Our heroes traveled for about a week and a half without incident. The weather was hot and dry, but they had purchased sufficient water to get themselves through the area. Just as the sun was beginning to lower towards the horizon, they noticed a group of men on horseback heading their direction. Weary of the only travelers they had seen thus far, Rykasha called for a halt when they grew closer and called out to them. The man in the front raised his hand in greeting and asked if he could approach. When they got closer, our heroes noticed they were badly burned on their chest and faces. Their lips were cracked and they looked parched beyond description. The leader of the four asked if they would share some water and perhaps some information about the road ahead of them. Rykasha noticed that as the man was gesturing with his hands that there was a tan line around his wrists and marks of a rope, as if he had been tied recently. The same marks were on his bare feet and ankles as well. She agreed to share the water and camp with them, and the four dismounted and were given drinks for themselves and their animals.
The leader of the four introduced himself as Panamon and listed off his companions as Roach, Eyestien and Gizurt. Alton came over to the men, and used his decreased divine power to heal the open gashes and burns on the men. Gizurt and Eyestien were very interested in how this miracle was achieved and went off with Alton where he spoke to them at length about the power of Pelor. Once everything was pretty situated, Rykasha went over to Panamon and asked if they could take a walk. Panamon distrusted the situation at first, noting that he was at a major disadvantage should it come down to a fight, but he went with her anyway. Rykasha asked him what had happened and told him that they had all noticed the rope marks. She asked him about Loban and what had transpired.
Panamon told her of what had become of LoBan. He told her that it was a great opportunity place where folks could make good money and the law wasn’t much in the way. But then a couple of men came to town and started to raise some hell. Before they knew it, they were caught, and strung out in the sun to die. He said that the Preacher’s name was Jeb and he had a little man with him, but didn’t have any more information than that to go on. Satisfied with the explanation, Rykasha escorted him back into camp and made sure that they all had comfortable sleeping arrangements for the night. When she went to check up on Alton, she saw that he was still speaking and showing his arts to Eystein and Gizurt.
The following morning began with a small campfire and some warmed trail rations. Panamon announced that he was going to be leaving before things could got too much worse. Eyestein spoke for both himself and Gizurt when he said that he was going to be staying behind with this group. Panamon was momentarily hurt by this request, but quickly regained his composure and spoke to them both in private for a few moments. When they came back, he declined Rykasha’s offer that they stay with them as well, and said that he and Roche were going to still continue on towards Williamsburg. The ranger held out her gift to the two departing men: a pair of hand-stitched leather boots. Panamon thanked her for the gift. Rykasha also provided them with two of her own water skins filled so that they could make the remainder of the journey. She also had one of her clothing altered so that both Panamon and Roche had head covering from the blazing heat. Gladly accepting all these gifts, he told them to look them up in a couple months next time they make I through LoBan. Rykasha asked Panamon if he meant Williamsburg, but Panamon turned to her with a bit of a funny look in his eye, and said, “No, I mean LoBan.”
The group then parted their ways and our heroes, now increased by two, continued northwest towards the unknown city of LoBan…