Turn 49 -- The Search Goes On

Kersath moves to the group to speak his mind, "I say we go to the Thornwood now. There's a good chance that we might find the pilgrims there. The bandits that tried to kidnap our spellcasters have probably come from there and this occurrence only makes me even more determined to go there. And as soon as possible!"

"I agree," says Beleg to Kersath. He then turns to address the rest of the company, "Our original intent was to go to the Thornwood and I see nothing here that changes that. I am with Kersath. We should head for the Thornwood as soon as practical."

Druckner goes over to take a look at the dead bodies. "These people were obviously part of a large group of pilgrims. Kersath, you should be able to spot some kind of tracks. They can't just appear as if by magic!" He then looks around at the ground and grins, "Huh, hmmm, forget what I just said. I guess it's difficult to track on this hard ground."

"I think we should keep on looking," continues the red-beared dwarf.

"These beasts appear to be wild, so they might have killed the guards because they were hungry. I see no reason to believe the mage kidnappers are behind this. The rest of the pilgrims might be close by and in danger. We should at least spend another day looking. Come on, we shouldn't give up!"

"Staying here, in these badlands is utterly useless in my opinion," answers Kersath again.

"Please, my friends, do not take offence but we should get those bodies a decent burial and find the godless bandits who caused all this mess, and neither of those purposes are served by staying the night here. We all might be tired," he says with a sigh, "And I know I am. But I prefer to rest a little less tonight than face those horrendous abominations of dogs again." He then looks around the group for any support.

Kre wipes his daggers free of dirt and mud and sheathes them, "I agree with Kersath, we must find the killers and punish them!" This last he adds with a grin to Brother Randor.

"I agree that these lands are not fit for sleeping in." Dain shivers and looks around uncomfortably, "But time doesn't permit another night in an inn. I say that we search for the pilgrims until about an hour or two before dusk and then head for the Thornwood. Camp on the road and enter the wood in the morn."

Ortho moves forward to address the group, "Let's trek on off in the direction from which these puppies came. Perhaps we shall find something of note. What we do know is that there are pilgrims missing. They have to leave tracks. Somewhere. But we have to move in order to search. Let's go!" With that, Ortho mounts up on his pony and begins to trot off in the direction from which the dogs came. After noticing that no one is following him yet, he turns back to the group with a huff and comes back, all the while keeping a sharp eye out for more of the dogs and any possible tracks on the earth.

"I don't see what one more day of search for tracks that aren't there will do," says Gnore impatiently. "This situation is a maybe at best but the keep is a solid task. I say we take the bodies into town for a proper burial then head for the keep." Everyone notices that Gnore still has the wild glint in his eyes, evidence of the last remaining tendrils of the battle surge that grips him in fervour of combat.

"Whatever the group decides, I support. As usual, I'll take first watch." Gnore then returns to his patrol of the surrounding countryside, looking for any signs of the pilgrims or threats to the company.

Dain pauses between puffs on his pipe to speak up, "Another day wouldn't hurt anything, as long as we have the supplies. Besides, if we can get the waylaid group of pilgrims to safety, perhaps they will pay us as well." Kre perks up at this last remark from Dain.

"Aye, I agree with that!"

Levering himself up with his uninjured arm, Garth stands and examines the bodies, looking to see if there were any non-pilgrims in the group. Stepping over to Brother Randor, Garth asks with aplomb, "Not t'ruffle y'er feathers, Brother Randor, but how many pilgrims d'yer suppose would be making this trek? I mean, how do we know that these poor souls weren't all there were?"

"Aye, there's the rub!" says Ortho. "This pitiful number can't be all."

Randor stands to speak to Ortho and Garth as well as the rest of the company, "Of course they weren't all there were. These men were only the hired guards for the group. And they are the only bodies left behind. I do believe that the other members were abducted." Randor reaches up to rub his eyes before continuing.

"The other members would have all been priests. It's my view that our mage kidnappers have expanded to include members of the priesthood as well. And when we got here, this man before he died spoke of a 'man' if you will, with eyes that he described as being alive. Whatever that means. But he did mention the pilgrims and that they were taken. If this is some magical being or abomination then he probably could take the pilgrims away and leave no trace."

"That is certainly possible," says Dain as he thinks for a moment. He then begins moving around the area and speaks a few mystical words of power as his hands move in intricate patterns.

Ras moves over to place a comforting hand on the arm of Randor, "What would you like to do with the bodies? I can help however you would like."

Randor looks around and noticing the lack of trees, frowns deeply again. "Ras, I thank you for your help. Let us find something to make stretchers to carry them to some place where they can be given a proper burial. I don't suppose we have any blankets and poles to make stretchers?" He then turns to address the rest of the group, "As for where we should go, I will go along with whatever the majority of the group thinks." He then begins to move about to get the bodies ready for travel.

"Perhaps we should just put the bodies onto Ras and Druckner's ponies," offers Beleg. "Ras can ride with me on Asfalof and I'm sure Druckner can ride with you Randor. We will be unable to provide stretchers otherwise."

Randor nods his head softly, "I guess that will have to do."

Talimar sighs with a sense of frustration at the lack of tracks or ideas where the priests were taken. He then looks over the group before speaking, "We will stay around here for the rest of the day looking for evidence of tracks or any other idea where the priests have been taken. Unless we find any further clues we shall head back with the bodies, and then go to the keep. Any comments or arguments?"

"None? Good, then lets start looking."

Dain moves over to speak with Talimar as the other members go about their tasks, Ras and Randor getting the bodies ready for transport as everyone else continues the search. "Talimar, I just did a quick detect magic on the surrounding area and was able to detect quite a bit. It could have just been the aura from the new weapons we have but I also believe there was something much stronger here as well. Could have been magical residue left from this other creature transporting the priests away. 'Course it could have just been the magical nature of these beasts also. 'Can't really say."

Talimar smiles warmly as his friend, "'Can't really say much of anything then can we?"

"Well....No, not exactly, I suppose." Frowning, Dain continues to walk around the area as he continues to think about the possible magical auras detected.

The party continues the search for the remainder of the day, stopping only for a quick lunch before continuing their canvass of the area. Strangely, no clues as to the whereabouts or direction taken by the kidnappers are found. About an hour before dusk, Talimar calls the party back together and preparations are made to head south, back to the Thornwood. Kersath's mood picks up as the party heads south but Randor heads to the Thornwood with a dour expression and heavy heart. He and Druckner bring up the rear of the group, pulling the two ponies with the guards bodies along behind them.

A few hours of travelling brings the party to the edge of the Redwood Forrest, where Kersath calls for a halt. Most of the party is exhausted as everyone dismounts.

"This is a good place to camp," begins Kersath with a look towards Talimar.

Talimar looks at the surrounding cover provided by the trees and nods his head, weighing his own tired body against the many more hours of travel to reach the Thornwood.

"We'll go ahead and camp here tonight and head on to the Thornwood in the morning." He then moves to start his own preparations.

Randor surveys the area and remembering Ol' Grizzler's kind words about this area of wood in the spring makes a quick decision. "Talimar, if it is ok with you, I believe I will bury the guards here. This is a nice enough area."

"Fine by me," replies the elven leader.

With that decided, Randor goes about preparing the bodies for burial as Beleg, Ras, Ortho and Garth help out with the digging of the graves.

Kersath and Gnore take a quick scouting trip of the surrounding area to make sure that there is nothing nearby to bother the group. After a few hours, the men are lying in their final resting place as Brother Randor finishes a lengthy prayer to Tyr for their souls. Following the service, the party settles down to get some much needed rest, setting up the normal watches for the evening.